Regions/World :: World (archived)
This page was archived when this portal was restructured in early 2007. For up to date information, please visit the International Relations site.
Last Updated March 2007
The International Dimension
There are many Information Society issues which are of common concern to countries around the world, ranging from the use of satellite spectrum to international trade and development issues. The EU therefore works with many countries and international organisations to both represent Europe's interests and actively promote the benefits of the Information Society to people around the world.
There is an international dimension to many - if not most - of the EU's Information Society policies and activities.
The EU's regulatory framework for the electronic communications sector, for example, is widely admired by other regions around the world for its innovative, technology-neutral approach to regulating the sector. Apart from providing it as an example, however, the Commission is working closely with governments and international organisations around the world to smooth the links between theirs and the EU's regulatory systems - see the Commission's relations with the electronic communications sector in non-EU countries. See also information on the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis.
Similarly, radio spectrum is in many ways a shared resource, so the way it is allocated to various applications has global implications for the development of the Information Society, as well as European suppliers of Information Society technologies and services - see Radio Spectrum Policy: International Aspects.
International Programmes
Research into Information Society technologies, moreover, is taking place all over the world. Europe aims to both offer its expertise and benefit from the experience gained elsewhere through its Information Society Technologies research activities - see International Cooperation in IST Research.
International programmes in the field of the Information Society, however, do not stop at research and development. Others include:
- EUMEDIS: The Euro-Mediterranean Information Society Initiative
- NeDAP: The Northern eDimension Action Plan (Baltic Sea States)
- @LIS: The ALliance for the Information Society with Latin America aims to establish dialogue and cooperation on policy and regulatory frameworks in key areas for the development of a widespread Information Society, such as telecommunications, e-commerce and standardisation; boost interconnections between research networks and communities in both regions; and develop joint applications between the two regions.
Finally, see:
- Help > Links for some links to IS-related sites across the EU Member States and beyond;
- some more general information about the EU in the World.