richard harris dg information society european commission eicta - phare business support programme...
TRANSCRIPT
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
B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK EU
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
B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK EU
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
B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK EU
Computer trainingInternet training
AgendaAgenda
•e-Europe
•New regulatory package
•Implications for candidate countries
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
•Implications for candidate countries
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
Implications for candidate countries - 2Implications for candidate countries - 2
•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
Implications for candidate countries - 3Implications for candidate countries - 3
•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