The Telecommunications Council of Ministers met on 8 March in Brussels, where among other issues the participants discussed intercalary revision of the 2005 eEurope Action Plan.
The Commission welcomed the Council conclusions, underscoring the fact that the results of its questionnaire on implementation of the eEurope Action Plan, which led to its communication and future proposal to change the Action Plan decision, meant four main messages could be highlighted: the European Union (EU) is well on the 2005 eEurope Action Plan way; the current plan?s goals remain valid, even in a 25-member Europe; Europe is a stimulus for national efforts (specifically with respect to eGovernment and broadband); and some problems do remain, namely because the information society depends too much on supply, which is why it also has to be stimulated on the demand side.
The pan-European dimension has still not been explored enough, as content development, digital-level rights, valued passage for electronic services and evaluation of eEurope?s success are lacking.
The Commission thus reported that its proposal to change the current action plan should only include adjustments, and that its goal is for the proposed decision to be approved in the June Transports, Telecommunications and Energy Council and later transmitted to the European Council.
The Council likewise proceeded to exchange opinions on the sector situation, based on the document previously distributed by the Irish Presidency (doc. 6719/04). Commissioner Liikanen highlighted the productivity differences in the EU, with indices less favourable vis-à-vis the USA and Japan. He attributed these differences to the production and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), calling for sustained private sector investment in electronic communications.
Transposition of the new regulatory framework and implementation of national broadband strategies are measures the Governments should make to boost the sector. The Commission should draw up a communication in June, containing a report on national broadband strategies.
Most delegations noted positive signs of sector recovery and the need to maintain regular dialogue with the stakeholders. The informal ministers conference to be held in Dundalk, Ireland, on 21-23 April will contribute to this.
The role of small and medium companies (SMEs) and their adjustment to the new ICTs, the advantage of encouraging a multi-platform approach, the need to plug the digital gap, the importance of making attractive content available, able to stimulate broadband use, secure digital payment, namely in mobile services, and broadband use in teaching institutions and its multiplier effect, were ideas behind the exchange of opinions.
The Presidency concluded by stressing the Governments? role in boosting broadband, by either creating stable regulatory frameworks or intervening directly, via eGovernment or eHealth for example.
Regarding World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) follow-up, the Presidency presented a draft on conclusions, stressing that the first part of the Geneva Summit left some lessons for the future, specifically regarding questions of organisation and procedure. The Presidency held that the conclusions draft seeks partly to answer these questions and that the next Transports, Telecommunications and Energy Council will be vital for preparation of the community position in the context of preparatory work for the Summit?s second phase.
The Commission emphasised that the EU spoke with one single voice during the Summit?s first phase, which enabled it to play a leadership role that should also be secured during preparation of the second phase. It also reported that it would draw up a communication that should constitute the institution?s working basis for this second preparation phase. Finally, the Commission called attention to the meeting of the High Level Group on Internet Governance, to be held in Brussels on 17 March.
Only France intervened, to stress the need for a minister-level meeting to be held to organise the Summit?s second phase.
