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Weekly Issue - 29 September 2011

Latest News

PRESS RELEASE

Digital Agenda: Commission requests Hungary to end special tax on telecom operators

(29 September 2011) The European Commission has requested Hungary to abolish specific turnover tax on telecoms operators which were introduced in October 2010. The Commission considers this tax is illegal under EU telecoms rules because revenue from the taxes is used for the Government's central budget and not for meeting the specific costs of regulating the telecoms sector. Hungary has also failed to comply with its obligation to consult interested parties in an appropriate manner on any amendments of charges applied to telecoms operators. The Commission's request to Hungary to abolish the telecoms tax takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under EU infringement procedures.

PRESS RELEASE

Digital Agenda: Commission requests Belgium and UK to implement Audiovisual Media Services Directive in Brussels and Gibraltar

(29 September 2011) The European Commission has requested Belgium and the UK to implement outstanding provisions of the EU's Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive in Brussels and Gibraltar respectively. Belgium has notified the Commission of measures to implement the AVMS Directive as regards all audiovisual media services that are established in all three linguistic communities: French, Flemish and German. However, audiovisual on-demand services provided in Brussels in other languages than French and Dutch are not yet regulated. The Belgian authorities have informed the Commission that a draft law is being prepared but is still in a preliminary phase. The UK has also notified the Commission of measures to implement the AVMS Directive into national law. However, this law does not cover audiovisual services provided in Gibraltar. A draft law is under preparation, but the adoption process is still underway.

PRESS RELEASE

Digital Agenda: Commission requests Denmark to change rules on financing of universal services

(29 September 2011) The European Commission has decided to formally request Denmark to comply fully with EU rules regarding the financing of basic telecoms services provided to consumers, known as "universal services". In particular, the Commission has asked Denmark to remove maritime emergency services from the list of services which the telecom sector has to bear the cost of providing. The Commission's request to Denmark to amend its universal service rules takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under EU infringement procedures.

PRESS RELEASE

Taking care of the Internet

(27 September 2011) A vision for the future governance of the Internet and principles to guide public and private actions in cyberspace was today set out by European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes in a speech to the Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. Ms Kroes spelled out her "Compact" for the Internet: "an Internet of Civic responsibility, One Internet that is Multi-stakeholder, Pro-democracy, Architecturally sound, inspiring Confidence and Transparently governed". She set out measures she will be taking to improve user confidence and trust. She also commented on how Internet governance should take proper account of legitimate public policy issues without being "hi-jacked" - because private vested interests should never trump the public interest. While mentioning the possible need for some international agreement, she stressed her wariness of regulation and her strong preference for the light touch: "the space which the Internet creates for freedom, self-expression and innovation is not one which public authorities should seek to crowd out". But equally, public authorities may need to take a greater role in Internet governance matters, while acting in an internationally coherent way. "If the Internet is to fulfil its glorious potential, public authorities must support and protect it, but not kill it", she said.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Digital Agenda: Second week of Going Local to Member States

3 October 2011 - 6 October 2011 Denmark, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic

From 3 - 6 October, European Commission officials will participate in events organised in Denmark, Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic in order to present to stakeholders and the public the Digital Agenda for Europe. This week's events will focus on the Digital Single Market, Broadband, ICT for Society, digital challenges and solutions for businesses and public authorities in the border region, innovation for digital inclusion, IT security and e-government. To find out more about these and other forthcoming events, check out the Digital Agenda Going Local page.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

eHealth 2020 - What Synergies for Europe?

12 October 2011 European Parliament, Brussels

This Workshop targets the future of eHealth. It is organised following the Public Consultation of the European Commission on an eHealth Action Plan (eHAP) 2012-2020. This initiative highlights what is needed both at European and Member State level to take eHealth services a significant step forward, i.e. beyond the mere deployment of infrastructures and it supports a long term vision for eHealth in Europe. eHealth is just one part of a significant transformation of health care provision towards shared care models where citizens and patients actively maintain their health. Thus trust and acceptance of eHealth by its users will be the tagline of this workshop. Statements and panellists will represent the Presidency of the Council, the European Parliament, the European Commission, National and Regional Governments, plus Stakeholders like physicians and patients as well as industry.

Reminders

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Future and Emerging Technologies Information Day on Call 8 of ICT-FP7

11 October 2011 Madrid, Spain

This information day will cover the following strategic objectives of Call 8 + FET Open: Unconventional Computation ; Dynamics of Multi-Scale Complex Systems ; Minimising Energy Consumption of Computing to the Limit ; Coordinating Communities, Identifying new research topics for FET Proactive initiatives and Fostering Networking of National and Regional Research Programmes. A FET project officer will present the content of each one of them, and give special guidance to the goals and type of projects expected. In parallel, the other Scientific Officers will hold bilateral meetings with potential participants (10-15 minutes each), to discuss specific proposal ideas.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Future Internet Week

24 October 2011 - 28 October 2011 Poznan, Poland

The "Future Internet Week" will consist of a series of events, such as conferences, meetings and workshops, covering different aspects of the Future Internet. The event is organised in connection with the Polish Presidency of the EU.

New in the Library

BROCHURE

Filling in the gaps: COGEU sees Europeans switch over to broadband over TV white spaces

28 September 2011

Anyone who's switched to digital TV is all too familiar with its upsides: more channels, enhanced image quality or interactivity. But there is more to the ongoing analogue-to-digital switchover than meets the (usual TV viewer's) eye. European researchers seized the opportunity to increase broadband coverage by developing ways to improve the use of locally undistributed frequencies. Widely known as TV white spaces (TVWS) or the "digital dividend", the airwaves refer to the 790MHz to 862 MHz spectrum freed up following the switchover from analogue to digital television. Funded under the EU Commission's 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development, COGEU (Cognitive radio systems for efficient sharing of TV white spaces in European context) project aims to develop the existing radio technology that ensures an efficient use of frequencies and eventually more broadband access. These efforts come in line with the Digital Agenda for Europe actions: adoption and implementation of a common EU policy for radio spectrum, in the larger context of bringing broadband to all Europeans.

Contact: INFSO Future Networks
See also: Future Networks EU Research

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