(20/11/2009) Today, the Council of EU Ministers unanimously approved the EU's telecoms reform package, first proposed by the European Commission in 2007. Today's Council decision comes after a political agreement on the package was reached in a breakthrough meeting between the European Parliament and Council on 5 November. The new rules will enhance competition and investment in Europe's telecoms market, by giving more certainty to companies investing in high-speed optical fibre and wireless networks. It will also open up airwaves for new mobile services. The European Parliament will vote next week, in its Strasbourg plenary session, to formally endorse the telecoms package. The reformed telecoms rules will become EU law once they are published in the EU's Official Journal in December 2009.

See also: EU Telecoms Reform: 12 reforms to pave way for stronger consumer rights, an open internet, a single European telecoms market and high-speed internet connections for all citizens

(20/11/2009) The European Commission today stepped up legal action against Italy because Italian emergency services still do not receive information about the location of people who dial 112 – Europe's single emergency number – from mobile phones despite a previous judgement of the European Court of Justice. The Commission has decided to send Italy a reasoned opinion, which is the final stage before the case is referred again to the European Court of Justice, who would then have to decide to impose financial penalties on Italy for lack of respect of a previous judgement. At the same time, the Commission also ended legal action taken against Lithuania as caller location details are now available for 112 calls from mobile phones.

(19/11/2009) The winners of the 2009 European eGovernment Awards have been announced today at the eGovernment Ministerial Conference in Malmö (Sweden). The awarded projects were selected for their innovative contribution to increasing the efficiency of public services through the use of digital technologies. In their respective categories the winners are: the European Order for Payment Application (Austria and Germany), Genvej (Denmark), the Italian Public Administration eMarketplace (Italy) and Licensing of Hunters via the “Multibanco” ATM Network (Portugal).

See also: Webcast: Five happy winners at eGovernment Awards

(19/11/2009) EU ministers have committed to developing smarter online public services for citizens and businesses by 2015. The Commission has welcomed this step forward in making eGovernment more accessible, interactive and customised. At the fifth Ministerial eGovernment Conference in Malmö (Sweden) today, EU ministers outlined a joint vision and policy priorities on how this should be delivered. eGovernment is a key step towards boosting Europe's competitiveness, benefiting from time and cost savings for citizens and businesses across Europe.

(18/11/2009) With more than 11 million new fixed lines laid in a year, the take up of broadband internet continues to grow in Europe. According to a report published today by the European Commission, 24% of the EU population had a broadband access line subscription in July 2009, up from 21.6% in July 2008. The report also shows that mobile broadband is gaining momentum in Europe, with a 54% increase since January and now at a penetration rate of 4.2% per 100 citizens. Last but not least, broadband internet connections in Europe are increasingly faster. 80% of broadband lines in the EU now have download speeds of 2 megabits per second (Mbps) or greater (allowing the use of Web 2.0 and video streaming), which is 5% up from last year.

Deadline: 30/11/2009

This open Call for Tenders aims to secure the external professional expertise and technical assistance required by the European Commission, and primarily by its Information Society and Media Directorate General, in order to pursue its information and communications activities. The intention is to select a range of specialised contractors (or consortia led by a main contractor), most suited for delivery of the wide variety of specialised support services sought.

See also: Contract notice in the Official Journal

FP7 ICT-Theme Information Day

ECTA Annual Regulatory Conference 2009

ICCC X - First International Conference on Computational Creativity

5th ETSI Security Workshop

TERENA Networking Conference 2010 - Call for papers