The telecommunications ministers of the European Union (EU) have approved the Granada Ministerial Declaration on the European Digital Agenda, at an informal meeting held on 19 April 2010.
This Declaration, which is non-binding and which sets out to establish the bases of Europe’s digital future, addressed the following areas: infrastructures; advanced use of the open interne, security and trust; digital user rights; digital single market; public digital services; strengthening the competitiveness of Europe’s ICT sector; international dimension of the digital agenda; and measuring progress.
In terms of infrastructure, a number of measures were put forward to overcome the digital divide, looking to the objective of achieving comprehensive broadband coverage (100 per cent) by 2013 and promoting widespread take-up of high speed broadband by 2020. The Declaration also highlights the need to provide a strong impulse to the roll out of competitive next generation high speed networks through the promotion of competition between broadband providers and by implementing a predictable regulatory regime for the promotion of efficient investment based on the revised EU e-communication services framework. The other actions considered also include the promotion of innovative digital wireless services and the adoption of the future EU radio spectrum policy programme, with the objective of an efficient use of radio spectrum.
As a way of guaranteeing the rights of digital users, the ministers have set out the preparation and dissemination of an easily available and understandable "Code of Digital Rights of e-Communications and online services". The Declaration also addresses the reinforcement of data protection and privacy for users of social networking services and in key fields such as online health and e-government services.
Further information:
- Granada Ministerial Declaration on the European Digital Agenda: Agreed on 19 April 2010 http://www.eu2010.es/export/sites/presidencia/comun/descargas/Ministerios/en_declaracion_granada.pdf
- Europe approves the Granada Declaration for the new Digital Agenda http://www.eu2010.es/export/sites/presidencia/comun/descargas/Documentacion/en_ndep_granada_acc.pdf
