ACTIVITIES :: IS Policy Link :: Policy Interfaces
Policy Interfaces
Overview
In recent years, the Information Society and Media Directorate-General (DG INFSO) has
launched numerous RTD projects and policy initiatives contributing to the
advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and their
applications in various sectors of the economy and society. Many of these
projects and actions have a direct impact on other EU policies and could be used
by other DGs in support of their policies.
In 2004 DG INFSO launched a new initiative entitled “Information Society Policy
Link” with a view to improving co-operation and co-ordination between DG Information Society and
Media and all other relevant policy DGs, EU
institutions, as well as appropriate services in Member States.
During the pilot phase of the initiative actions have focused primarily on
collecting initial information on
projects that would have a
positive impact on EU policies. Successful co-operation was initiated at
operational level with a subset of policy DGs notably: ENTR, ENV, RELEX, REGIO,
EAC, EMPL, SANCO. For example, a networking meeting with participation from six
policy DGs, 25 project consortia and all INFSO units involved, was held within
the IST-2004 Event in The Hague (16.11.2004).
Furthermore, a series of promotional materials has been developed, presenting
INFSO Policy Cases (promising projects’ results). These publications cover
some
20 EU policy areas and the intention is to disseminate such material on a
regular basis to address policy DGs and other EU policy makers, notably MEPs.
In the second stage of the “Information Society Policy Link” the focus will be
on:
• further refinement of information on projects/Policy Cases identified, expanding
to all policy areas
• ensuring a continuous cooperation with policy DGs by establishing flexible
Policy Interfaces at operational level between DG INFSO and policy DGs
• launching targeted promotions to policy makers in Europe
Policy Interfaces Functions
The establishment of Policy Interfaces at an operational level has a two-fold
objective:
- to inform policy DGs about INFSO plans for research and development activities
in ICT eg ICT in Framework Programme 7 (FP7), and to listen to their specific requirements for ICT
research. This will ensure that EU policy needs for ICT development and
applications are taken into consideration when defining Information Society RTD
priorities.
- to ensure that results from INFSO-funded research projects and other
activities are taken into account to the fullest extent in implementing EU
policies.
The main functions of a Policy Interface are:
1. Communications: establish a platform to source and adapt INFSO Policy
Cases and disseminate this information to relevant policy makers in suitable
formats.
2. Operational Monitoring: provide an ongoing internal assessment and
central reference point for INFSO’s policy-related activities.
3. Service Liaison: provide liaison between policy DG services and
relevant INFSO services. This role will address both thematic and
horizontal/technology aspects and in particular will aim to facilitate a
dialogue between the services on research priorities (eg for FP7).
4. Signposting: provide a central point of contact for inter-service and
inter-institutional enquiries and relay queries to relevant internal experts.
5. Horizon Scanning: identify new and emerging policy issues and help to
elaborate INFSO positions in areas of strategic interest.
Structure
IS Policy Interfaces will serve as a continuous and flexible framework for
bilateral and multilateral co-operation. It will bring together officials from
DG INFSO units managing the different projects and initiatives, and from
respective policy DGs; other officials eg Cabinets and the Secrétariat Général may be invited to
meetings as required.
Such a framework may be of variable configuration and will operate through
regular meetings focusing on major issues such as: ICT activities in FP7;
general dissemination of ICT-related projects’ results. Thematic policy
discussions will be addressed in thematic groups constituted to discuss issues
of particular interest to a number of DGs eg environment-related projects,
security, public health etc, according to their specific interests.
Thematic sub-groups
The “Information Society Policy Link” initiative acts as a catalyst and will
complement rather than overlap with the policy activities undertaken by INFSO
units and eventual existing interservice groups. For this purpose synergies and
close cooperation will be sought with existing structures with a view to
establishing a unique forum for cooperation per policy theme by
promoting and enlarging these groups.
The following thematic sub-groups are envisaged (indicative
list), involving the most relevant DGs and INFSO units managing projects
in respective areas (Eurostat may be involved in most of them):
| Themes | DGs concerned | INFSO Units | ||
| Lead | Members | Lead | Members | |
| Environment | ENV | RTD, SANCO | H4 | |
| Health | SANCO | ENV, ENTR, EMPL, RTD | H1 | |
| Security | JLS | RELEX, TREN, ENV | F5 | |
| Education | EAC | EMPL | E3 | |
| Competitiveness, RTD, innovation | ENTR | EMPL, RTD, ENV | D4 | C2 |
| Employment | EMPL | ENTR | H3 | |
| ICT sector (industry, content etc) | ENTR | ADMIN, DIGIT | C2 | |
| Regional Policy | REGIO | ENV | A3 | |
| Transport & Energy | TREN | ENV | G4 | |
| External Relations | RELEX | TRADE, AIDCO, DEV, ENV | A4 | |
| eGovernment | SG | ADMIN, DIGIT | H2 | |
Estimated frequency of Policy Interfaces meetings
It is expected to have two plenary meetings per year with all DGs participating. In addition, thematic sub-groups will be meeting several times according to their specific needs. All meetings will be facilitated by the Information Society Policy Link support team.
Policy Interfaces tasks
I. DG INFSO, through the Information Society Policy Link, will provide
the secretariat for Policy Interfaces with Policy DGs and put in place a
team of experts to continuously analyse IS project information, identify Policy
Cases of interest to DGs based on their policy relevance and support targeted
promotions to EU policy makers.
In particular, it will:
• Provide information to policy DGs on important developments eg ICT in FP7,
i2010 etc
• Offer liaison services between demanding policy DG services and relevant INFSO
services (both thematic and horizontal/technology-oriented) and thus facilitate the dialogue
• Provide links and references to portals/websites of the different DGs for
access to public information on policies and activities of the policy DG
services
• Undertake the organisation of Policy Workshops, bringing together
officials from INFSO and different policy DGs and other institutions and
inviting project consortia to present ways to explore further Policy Cases
• Prepare a Promotional Plan outlining promotional actions, including
participation in events organised by either the INFSO services or the policy DGs
and/or project consortia
• Produce an annual report on policy impacts of IS projects and initiatives
II. Each Policy DG will:
• Nominate a liaison unit and officials in charge to ensure this co-operation
• Put in place appropriate internal mechanisms eg correspondents in its
directorates/units to ensure dissemination of relevant information
• Provide links and references to INFSO portals/websites for access to public
information on policies and activities of the policy DG services
• Actively participate in working meetings for both plenaries and concerned thematic
sub-groups
• Co-operate with DG INFSO in the organisation of policy workshops and other
similar events
• Assess and quality review proposed Policy Cases prior to wider dissemination,
in co-operation with supporting INFSO units
• Inform DG INFSO on policy developments in their area
•
Identify synergies in general information and communication and promotional
activities