Richard Harris DG Information Society European Commission EICTA - PHARE Business support programme...

Richard Harris DG Information SocietyEuropean Commission

EICTA - PHARE Business support programmeEICTA - PHARE Business support programmeBrussels, 5 December 2001Brussels, 5 December 2001

““EU Policy for electronic EU Policy for electronic communications, Implications for EU communications, Implications for EU

Candidate Countries”Candidate Countries”

AgendaAgenda

•e-Europe

•New regulatory package for telecommunications

•Implications for candidate countries

e-Europe 2002e-Europe 2002

•Purpose:

•accelerate transition to the Information Society

•increase coherence within EU

•Political endorsement: Lisbon and Feira

•A new strategic goal for the next decade: “to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy

in the world”

•Action Plan: Europe’s response to the challenge of the New Economy

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK EU

Internet take-up in EU homesInternet take-up in EU homes (% of homes - October 2000/June 2001)(% of homes - October 2000/June 2001)

Source: European Commission / Eurobarometer - October 2000 / June 2001

Priorities for actionPriorities for action

Complete telecoms liberalisation to drive prices further down.

Security and confidence in cyberspace.

Promotion of content.

Bridge the digital divide by giving skills to all.

Associate our neighbours to the eEurope process.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90


Source: Mobile Communications - August 2000 / August 2001

Mobile users in EuropeMobile users in Europe (% of population - August 2000/2001)(% of population - August 2000/2001)

18 October 2001

Security problems experienced Security problems experienced by EU Internet users by EU Internet users ((October 2000 - June 2001)October 2000 - June 2001)

0

10

20

30

Source: European Commission / Eurobarometer - October 2000 / June 2001

Too many unsolicited e-mails

9%

24%

Virus attack

8%

15%

Abuse of credit card number

1%

eGovernmenteGovernment

• Openness and transparency is a first step

• With interactivity will come responsiveness, personalisation and cost-efficiency

• eGovernment conference on 29-30 Nov. 2001 in Brussels on joint Commission-Belgian Presidency initiative

18 October 2001

Digital exclusion - Social factorsDigital exclusion - Social factors (% of population who already used(% of population who already used

the Internet) the Internet)

Source: European Commission / Eurobarometer - June 2001 (population aged over 15)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Male Female 15-24 25-39 40-54 55+ Low Middle High Metro Urban Rural

EU average: 46.2%

Age Education level Area of residenceGender

18 October 2001

Internet access in EU schools Internet access in EU schools (% of all schools)(% of all schools)

Source: European Commission / Eurobarometer - May 2001

0

20

40

60

80

100


Schools connected to the InternetSchools where pupils have Internet access

18 October 2001

Digital training in the EU Digital training in the EU (% of population)(% of population)

Source: European Commission / Eurobarometer - June 2001 (Population aged over 15)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


Computer trainingInternet training

AgendaAgenda

•e-Europe

•New regulatory package


The new regulatory packageThe new regulatory package

Spectrum

Decision

(Art. 95)

Liberalisation

Directive

(Art. 86) Framework

Directive

(Art. 95)

Access & Interconnection Directive

Universal Service and Users’ Rights Directive

Data Protection Directive

Authorisation Directive

Policy objectivesPolicy objectives

Legal certainty

Technologicalneutrality

Minimum required regulation

Harmonisation

Framework

Authorisations

Access &Interconnection

Unbundled local loop

Universal service

Data protection

Simple marketentry

Clear obligationsfor dominant players

More competition

Cheaper & fasterInternet access

Consumer rights

Privacy protection

Flexibility

Other things on our mindsOther things on our minds

The Commission’s recent report on enlargement which

proposes ten countries at once

The 7th Implementation report

- unique to the EU telecomms sector

AgendaAgenda

•e-Europe

•New regulatory package


eEurope+eEurope+

• Integrate the candidate countries through a common strategy and common priorities

• Based on eEurope but adapted:

establish the basic building blocks of the digital age

cheaper, faster, secure Internet

invest in people and skills

stimulate the use of the Internet

• Implementation is up to national governments

Implications for candidate countries - 1Implications for candidate countries - 1

•CEECs are subject to the same economic pressures as the rest of the developed world

•CEECs have joined the WTO and have committed to opening their markets

•CEECs want to join the EU, which means adopting the acquis and aligning their economies with the EU’s internal market


•In Lisbon, the EU leaders recognised that our legislative processes can barely keep up

•At the Warsaw ministerial conference and in Gothenburg CEECs followed suit

•The pace must now increase

•Candidate countries have to show their readiness to join the EU - benchmarking


•Regular reports just published - closer monitoring will start soon

•Strengthen independent regulatory structures

•Progress made by the regulatory body since the last report has been good but important policy issues raised in the previous report have not been addressed

18 October 2001

PL 1.53______

PL 0.85____

Interconnection pricesInterconnection prices- fixed to fixed local- fixed to fixed local

18 October 2001

CZ 3.10______

PL 2.04______

CZ 1.90______

PL 1.3_____

Interconnection pricesInterconnection prices- fixed to fixed single transit- fixed to fixed single transit

Thank you for your attention

europa.eu.int/eeurope

Richard Harris DG Information Society European Commission EICTA - PHARE Business support programme...

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