EU Member States and accession countries have made good progress in rolling out broadband access and in getting public services on line, says a mid-term progress report published by the European Commission on the eEurope 2005 Action Plan. eEurope, launched in 2000, seeks to ensure that the Union realises the full potential of the information society to drive growth through improved productivity and competitiveness. To do this eEurope now focuses on the widespread availability of secure broadband services and on action to promote greater use. The report recognises the important role of public authorities in areas such as procurement, e-government, education and eHealth, as well as the area of e-business where public authorities have an important role in setting the right regulatory conditions. The current Action Plan has ensured steady progress in most areas, but despite positive signs, more effort is needed to share experience and to tailor services to user needs rather than just focusing on installing new technology or applications. This also requires strong political leadership. The Action Plan forms the basis for a discussion with Member States and stakeholders with a view to identifying changes by summer 2004.

To investigate the level of interest in secondary trading of rights to use radio spectrum as a tool for more flexible spectrum management, the European Commission has issued a request for opinion to the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG). The main objective of the request is to form an opinion on the potential benefits and drawbacks of secondary trading of spectrum for European Community policies and in particular the EC internal market; on the procedures and conditions to be addressed when introducing spectrum trading; and on the potential need for co-ordination among Member States regarding introduction of spectrum trading in order to avoid a fragmentation of the market for spectrum and wireless technologies. Deadline for responses: 2 April 2004

The Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) decided at its second meeting on 19 September 2003 to develop and adopt by November 2004 a RSPG Opinion on spectrum implications of switchover to digital broadcasting following a Request for Opinion issued by the Commission. In accordance to its policy to accompany its work by public consultations, the RSPG would welcome the views on this radio spectrum policy issue of all radio spectrum users, both commercial and non-commercial, as well as any other interested parties on the subject matter. Deadline for responses: 1 March 2004

On 6th February 2004, the Safer Internet Day has been celebrated across Europe. This event focused on children's rights to a safer Internet as part of the European Commission's Safer Internet Programme. It showcased existing safer Internet projects, videos and awards developed with the backing of the programme. These programmes involve actors from the private, public and voluntary sectors. Safer Internet project members have contributed to several remarkable achievements. In October 2003 a worldwide child-porn ring was broken up following a tip from the Internet hotline association INHOPE. In November 2003 the new Internet Content Rating Association content filtering platform ICRAplus was launched. Events have been staged simultaneously in 12 European countries (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), as well as in Australia. These events involved public authorities, the Internet industry and hundreds of other organisations.

The European Commission presented on February 3rd the key elements for a test phase or "Preparatory Action" on security research. The Communication, entitled "Towards a programme to advance European security through Research and Technology", explains why security research needs to be co-ordinated at the EU level. It also presents key priority areas which need to be addressed such as: protection against terrorism (including bio terrorism); improving crisis management; and enhancing the security, reliability, protection and interoperability of communication systems, thus making it easier for civilian and military authorities across the EU to co-ordinate their actions. A €65 million budget has been earmarked for the initial phase (2004 2006). The Preparatory Action should lead to a full European Security Research Programme starting in 2007. This should bring together the necessary know-how and investment for the joint development of technologies which are critical for Europe's security. In the long term, it should also contribute to enhancing Europe's industrial competitive edge in these areas.

The importance of investment and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for further growth and jobs in Europe is highlighted in a communication adopted by the Commission on February 3rd in the run up to the Spring European Council. It underlines the importance of the electronic communication sector for the health of the European economy and its key role in boosting productivity. Further growth will be driven by the provision of new services over high-speed fixed and wireless networks making use of broadband and 3G mobile communications, while policy makers must do more to create the conditions for faster investment. The report singles out the implementation of the new regulatory framework for electronic communications, action to extend broadband coverage in underserved areas, stimulating demand and the successful role out of third generation mobile communications as top priorities. This should be supported by the on-going mid-term review of the eEurope 2005 Action Plan.

The high-level Group of Personalities that was set up to develop a vision for a full-fledged program to advance European security through research and technology after 2006 is currently completing its report and is expected to finalise it at a meeting in Brussels on 16 February 2004. The report they will present to the Commission is a central part of the current consultation with stakeholders on a research program to support EU’s security strategy as decided in the European Council of December 2003. The Group of Personalities has discussed possible research contributions to address the new security challenges in a changing world and their report will provide a basis for establishing the future requirements of the EU Security Research programme. The group is co-chaired by Commissioners Busquin and Liikanen and includes CEOs from industry and research institutes, high level European political figures, members of the European Parliament and observers from intergovernmental institutions

Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen today called for global cooperation against 'spam' at a two-day OECD workshop in Brussels. Building on efforts by many countries to combat 'spam', the OECD should rapidly agree a five-point framework to promote effective legislation against spam, cooperation between enforcement agencies, self-regulation by industry, technical solutions, and greater consumer awareness.

The Commission and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 30 January aimed at fostering a constructive collaboration in areas of common interest. Joint activities are expected notably to help European citizens to benefit from new wireless technologies and products.

The European Commission has decided to launch a broad investigation regarding the sale of sports rights to Internet companies and to providers of the third generation (3G) of mobile phone services. The purpose of the inquiry is to have as clear and wide a view as possible of the availability of audiovisual sports rights in the European Union. Sports rights and notably football rights are powerful drivers for the sale of pay-TV subscriptions but also for the roll-out of new media markets, such as enhanced Internet and UMTS services. In the interest of entrepreneurship, consumer choice and innovation, the Commission wants to make sure that access to this key premium content is not unduly restricted.

A series of actions to help enforce the EU "ban on spam" were presented by Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen in Brussels today. These actions focus on effective enforcement by Member States, technical and self-regulatory solutions by industry, consumer awareness, and international co-operation.

The European Union has been instrumental in giving political and financial support to the rapid take up of the new Internet Protocol IPv6. This next generation of Internet technology will support the better integration of new Internet services into homes, businesses and even vehicles. The European Commission has fostered co-operation between the Research and Education Networks around the world to establish the world's first all IPv6 research network. The global IPv6 service for the research community was launched at the inaugural "Global IPv6 Service Launch" event, hosted by the European Commission, on January 15-16, 2004 in Brussels in celebration of this achievement.

The European Commission, Information Society Directorate-General, will host an OECD workshop on spam in Brussels, on 2-3 February 2004. This workshop will be opened by Commissioner Liikanen and aims to explore the growing problem of spam, with a focus on the international dimension. For more information on the workshop and registration, please visit the website.

Fourteen CEOs from key players within the mobile communications sector have set out a common vision for the future. The group set out more than twenty recommendations on steps needed to support and sustain the rollout of mobile networks and services across Europe. This involves action on research, standards, content, security, spectrum, international co-operation and regulation. The Report was the first fruit of the Mobile Communications and Technology Platform established last October, under the European Initiative for Growth, by Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society. The platform brings together leading industrial players from among mobile operators, equipment and component manufacturers and content providers.

IBM Business Consulting Services (formerly PwC Consulting) was commissioned by the Directorate General Information Society of the European Commission to prepare four semi-annual reports on the development of the telecommunications services markets in the EU candidate countries. This work has been done with the full cooperation of the national authorities. The 4th and final report has just been released.

Today, the European Commission has sent a so-called statement of objections to TeliaSonera AB. The statement concerns a contract for the construction and operation of a fibre-optic broadband network for the provision of high-speed Internet access and other services on behalf of HSB Malmö, a regional housing association. The Commission takes the view that TeliaSonera's bid for that contract was intentionally set below cost and did not allow the operator to recover the investments and expenses derived from the provision of infrastructures and services contained in the contract. By setting such a low price, TeliaSonera prevented the development of alternative infrastructure and the entry of competing service providers. TeliaSonera thereby strengthened its dominant positions in the markets for the provision of local broadband infrastructure and the provision of high-speed Internet access.

Several presentations as well as a summary of the workshop on Spectrum Trading December 11 in Brussels are now available on the web site of Analysys Consulting. A consortium led by Analysys Consulting and including DotEcon and Hogan & Hartson conducted the workshop as part of the work on the "Study on conditions and options in introducing secondary trading of radio spectrum in the European Community" which is currently being carried out for the European Commission. Approximately 160 participants from industry, public and private authorities dealing with radio spectrum policy have engaged in a fruitful discussion on radio spectrum and its management. The initial findings in the study were presented and discussed.