The Safer Internet Plus programme, the fight against spam, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the future of information technology and communications (ITC) and Galileo, the European global navigation satellite system, were the main items discussed at the meeting of the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers for Transport, Telecommunications and Energy, held in Brussels on 9th and 10th December, 2004.
At this meeting of the Council, agreement was reached on the European Commission's decision to establish the multiannual Community programme Safer Internet Plus, which aims to promote more secure use of the Internet and new online technologies, and contains alterations from the European Parliament. The decision will have to be formally adopted at the next Council meeting. With the current programme, Safer Internet, finishing at the end of 2004, this new programme will come into force between 2005 and 2008 and will involve finance totalling 45 million euros that will be used to promote four main areas of action: fighting illegal content, tackling unwanted and harmful content, promoting a secure environment and awareness-raising.
With regard to spam, the conclusions adopted by the Council stress that the Commission must assess whether differences between national regulatory frameworks relating to electronic and private communications may constitute obstacles to the fight against spam. It must also promote initiatives to enhance cooperation within the Community in terms of exchange of information and consumer protection and develop cooperation with third countries on these matters.
In addition, the Council invites Member States and the Commission to ensure that, within the framework supplied by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the declaration of principles and plan of action are fully respected. The coordination of Community positions should also be guaranteed both within the appropriate forums and in the working group on Internet governance created by the United Nations Secretary-General as part of the WSIS, where particular issues should be debated, such as the administration of names and numbering, the internationalisation of Internet governance and the stability of Internet standards.
As far as the future of ITC is concerned, the Council has adopted a resolution that will be presented at the next European Council meeting in Spring 2005 as a contribution to the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy. This resolution emphasises the involvement of Member States in formulating a new agenda for the information society up to 2010, essential monitoring by the Commission of the regulatory environment and the involvement of industry in developing new ITC applications and new content.
In addition to these issues, Galileo merited special attention from Council of Ministers, since it has been decided to proceed with the operational phase of the satellite navigation system, with the launch of the first satellites set for the end of 2005.
At the meeting, other conclusions were also adopted on the first annual report on EU radioelectric spectrum policies, the Commission's progress report on the R&TTE Directive and on the interoperability of digital interactive television services.
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Telecom Council Conclusions https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=204340
- Combating spam under debate https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=237624
- Galileo - recruitment and new developments https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=236826
- EU - European Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=66653
- Electronic communications - regulatory framework https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=60209
- Information society https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=118259
- Digital television https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=2963
