EU Information Technology Law & Policy News

Opening soon: a digital library for Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:59:00 +0000

Europe's cultural diversity in books, music, paintings, photographs, and films open to all citizens at the click of a mouse via one portal – this dream of a European Digital Library could become reality this autumn. However, further efforts by the EU Member States are needed, said the European Commission today in a new Communication on making available digital versions of works from cultural institutions all over Europe. Digitisation of cultural works can give Europeans access to material from museums, libraries and archives abroad without having to travel or turn hundreds of pages to find a piece of information. Europe's libraries alone contain more than 2.5 billion books, but only about 1% of archival material is available in digital form. The European Commission therefore called on EU Member States to do more to make digitised works available online for Europeans to browse them digitally, for study, work or leisure. The European Commission itself will provide some € 120 million in 2009-2010 for improving online access to Europe's cultural heritage.
[European Commission Press Release]

Europe's cultural wealth at the click of a mouse

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:56:00 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions
[European Commission Memo]

New Satellites for Europe: European Commission starts selection procedure for operators of pan-European mobile satellite services

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:33:00 +0000

A competition for providers of communication services via satellite across Europe has been launched today by the European Commission. Satellite operators will for the first time be able to offer services such as high speed data, mobile TV, disaster relief and remote medical services under a single European selection procedure instead of under 27 different national systems. This is made possible by a new EU decision on mobile satellite services that entered into force this July. Mobile satellite systems use radio spectrum to provide services between a mobile earth station and one or more stations either in space or on the ground at fixed locations. They have the capability to cover a large territory and reach areas where such services were economically unviable before. The new European selection procedure could allow companies to offer innovative wireless services throughout Europe over a specifically reserved spectrum as of 2009.
[European Commission Press Release]

Mobile Satellite Services in Europe: Frequently Asked Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:31:00 +0000

Today the European Commission launched a call for candidate operators of pan-European mobile satellite services that takes place for the first time under a single EU-wide selection mechanism. This new mechanism will give industry the necessary confidence to invest in EU-wide services, even in previously uneconomic remote areas. It could allow companies, as of 2009, to offer innovative wireless services to consumers throughout Europe.
[European Commission Press Release]

Cars that talk: European Commission earmarks single radio frequency for road safety and traffic management

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:51:00 +0000

As part of its overall fight against road accidents and traffic jams, the European Commission decided today to reserve, across Europe, part of the radio spectrum for smart vehicle communications systems (so called co-operative systems). They are based on wireless communication technology and allow cars to 'talk' to other cars and to the road infrastructure providers. They can, for example, warn other drivers of slippery roads or of a crash which just happened. Smart vehicle communication systems have the potential to make safer and ease the lives of Europe's drivers: in 2006, more than 42,000 people died in road accidents in the European Union and more than 1.6 million were injured while every day there are some 7,500 km of traffic jams on the EU's roads. Today's European Commission Decision also intends to foster investment in smart vehicle communication systems by the automotive industry, at the same time spurring public funding in essential roadside infrastructure.
[European Commission Press Release]

State aid: European Commission approves rescue loan for TV 2 Denmark

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:46:00 +0000

The European Commission has authorised, under the EC Treaty’s rules on state aid, a credit facility granted by the Danish Ministry of Culture to support TV 2 Danmark AS. The European Commission concluded that the credit facility, which addresses the company's cash flow problems, constitutes rescue aid in line with the EU rules on state aid to companies in difficulty. In due time, the European Commission will review whether the credit is fully reimbursed or whether appropriate restructuring measures to restore the long term viability of TV 2 Danmark AS are taken.
[European Commission Press Release]

Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of EDS by Hewlett-Packard

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:51:00 +0000

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of EDS by Hewlett-Packard, both US-based companies active in the IT services sector. The European Commission concluded that the concentration would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]

New Figures Show: Almost two thirds of EU television time is "Made in Europe"

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:48:00 +0000

More than 63% of Europe's television broadcasters' programming time is devoted to European works and over 36% to works by independent European producers. These new figures come from the European Commission's eighth report on effectiveness of EU rules on the promotion of European works, which covers the period 2005-2006. This report which is published every two years is based on information provided by the EU Member States and monitors the promotion of European works on European TV screens under the 'Television without Frontiers' Directive. For the first time, broadcasters in the new EU-10 Member States are fully analysed in this report, and the report shows that they show today as much European content as those in the EU-15.
[European Commission Press Release]

European Platform on Electronic Data Retention for the Investigation, Detection and Prosecution of Serious Crime

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:35:00 +0000

European Commission Decision 2008/324/EC of 25 March 2008 setting up the 'Platform on Electronic Data Retention for the Investigation, Detection and Prosecution of Serious Crime' group of experts
[[2008] OJ L 111/11]

High-level debate on the "EU Telecoms Reform Package"

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:15:00 +0000

EESC welcomed European Commission's proposals but asked for strengthened protection of consumer rights and privacy and for more civil society participation in consultation and adoption processes. On 2 July 2008, practically a few days before the first reading at the European Parliament's ITRE and IMCO committees of the so-called "telecoms reform package", the EESC's opinion on the package was presented and discussed, together with the European Committee of the Regions' opinion on the same subject, at a high profile event. The package puts together the different reforms proposed by the European Commission for the regulatory framework concerning the EU's electronic communications networks.
[European Economic and Social Committee Press Release]

State aid: Commission authorises a €43 million Latvian film support scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:03:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved a €43 million Latvian film support scheme until 31 December 2013 under EC Treaty state aid rules. The six-year scheme covers all Latvia's film support measures including film development, production and distribution of Latvian and European films, particularly in rural Latvia. The European Commission found that the scheme is compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty and in line with the 2001 Cinema Communication rules concerning aid to film production. The Latvian authorities will implement any changes that may be required after the expiry of the Cinema Communication.
[European Commission Press Release]

State aid: European Commission approves EUR 150 million capital injection for France Télévisions

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:01:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved a EUR 150 million capital injection for the French public-television holding company, France Télévisions. The measure aims to enable the public channels to fulfil their general-interest mission in 2008 by offsetting the reduction in commercial revenues that followed the announcement that advertising would eventually be banned on such channels. The European Commission has taken the view that the capital injection was justified given the net costs that these specific missions involve and the French authorities' commitments regarding control of the funds. This decision is unrelated to current discussions on possible new types of public financing for France Télévisions, which will have to be notified at a later date to the European Commission.
[European Commission Press Release]

State aid: European Commission authorises €7.5 million Sardinian film support scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:59:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved a €7.5 million Sardinian film support scheme until 2010 under the EU state aid rules. The three-year scheme covers all Sardinia's measures to support films of regional and cultural interest. The European Commission found that the scheme is compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty, as well as with the rules in the 2001 Cinema Communication concerning aid to film production.
[European Commission Press Release]

State aid: Commission approves €1.7 million public support to increase broadband availability in Lazdijai and Alytus municipalities in Lithuania

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:57:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved under the EC Treaty state aid rules a €1.7 million public aid to help bring broadband to unserved areas of Lazdijai and Alytus district municipalities in Lithuania. The support, which involves EU, national and local public funds, is aimed at narrowing the gap between rural and urban areas as regards access to affordable broadband services. The European Commission found that the public support is justified by the benefits to consumers and by the safeguards put in place to preserve competition.
[European Commission Press Release]

Antitrust: European Commission confirms supplementary Statement of Objections sent to Intel

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:55:00 +0000

The European Commission confirmed that it has sent a supplementary Statement of Objections (SSO) to Intel on 17th July. The SSO reinforces the European Commission’s preliminary view outlined in a Statement of Objections of 26 July 2007 that Intel has infringed EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant position (Article 82) with the aim of excluding its main rival, AMD, from the x86 Central Processing Units (CPU) market.
[European Commission Memo]

European Commissioner Neelie Kroes on the way ahead for the broadcasting communication

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:51:00 +0000

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition Policy: The way ahead for the Broadcasting Communication, Broadcasting conference, Strasbourg, France, 17 July 2008
[Speech]

State aid: European Commission authorises €231 million Hungarian film support scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:37:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a €231 million Hungarian film support scheme, which will run until 31 December 2013. The six-year scheme covers all Hungary's film support measures, including the Hungarian film tax incentive. It is designed to promote the development of film culture in Hungary. The European Commission found that the scheme is compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty, in line with the 2001 Cinema Communication rules concerning aid to film production. The Hungarian authorities will implement any changes that may be required after the expiry of the Cinema Communication.
[European Commission Press Release]

"Texting without borders": European Commission plans ending roaming rip-offs for text messages abroad

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:00:00 +0000

The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in the EU cost over 10 times more than domestic short messages (SMS), show figures released today by the European Commission. The average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was €0.29 according to the European Regulators’ Group (ERG), but can be as high as €0.80 for travellers from Belgium. Calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered. The European Commission will therefore start working on measures to ensure that consumers benefit from a truly single market for mobile text services. The European Commission will also seek to put an end to "bill shocks" that can hit roaming customers using a mobile connection to surf the Internet. New measures could be proposed by the European Commission to the European Parliament and the EU Council in early autumn.
[European Commission Press Release]

Roaming: High Prices of SMS & Data Services in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:56:00 +0000

EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding: "What we want to achieve is simple: Sending text messages or downloading other data via a mobile phone while being in another EU country should not be substantially more expensive than at home. This is the logic of Europe's borderless single market that we created more than 50 years ago and from which the mobile industry has enormously benefited. Consumers should feel at ease when sending a text message from the beaches of Spain or when skiing in the mountains of Austria. Higher roaming charges abroad must be justified by additional costs of operators, or they will have to disappear."
[European Commission Memo]

European Commission evaluates the implementation of EU law on attacks against information systems in EU Member States

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Vice-President Barrot, European Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, has welcomed the good level of implementation of Framework Decision 2005/222 in a large majority of the EU Member States, but at the same time expressed his concern that six EU Member States have still not presented any implementation measures.
[European Commission Press Release]

European Commission welcomes European Parliament vote to strengthen the EU's Single Market for Telecoms but important questions remain open

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:58:00 +0000

Yesterday evening, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament voted on the European Commission's proposals to reform the EU Telecom rules. Even though the final view of the European Parliament will only be known once the Plenary has voted on the European Commission proposal – which is expected to take place on 3 September 2008 – the votes in ITRE and IMCO are important steps towards shaping the final legislative texts to be adopted by the European Parliament and the EU Council.
[European Commission Memo]

State aid: European Commission approves €141 million aid scheme to increase broadband availability in rural Germany

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:52:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved under the EC Treaty state aid rules a €141 million scheme to help bring broadband to rural areas of Germany that currently do not have access. The scheme is aimed at closing the gap in access to affordable broadband services between rural and urban areas. The European Commission found that the scheme provides the right incentives to achieve its objectives and that the competition between broadband service providers will be further strengthened.
[European Commission Press Release]

State aid: European Commission approves €7 million grant to increase broadband availability in mountainous and isolated areas of Alto Adige in Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:49:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved under the EC Treaty state aid rules a €7 million grant to help bring broadband to areas of Italy in Alto Adige that currently do not have access. The support is aimed at narrowing the gap of access to affordable broadband services between mountainous and urban areas. The European Commission found that the public support is justified by the benefits it brings to consumers and by the existence ofe safeguards put in place to preserve competition. This measure complements previous support to broadband in Alto Adige worth €6.9 million which the European Commission approved on 10 October 2007.
[European Commission Press Release]

Nine editors-in-chief mull future of written press and media pluralism with European Commission

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:46:00 +0000

EU Media Commissioner Viviane Reding meets nine editors-in-chief of European newspapers such as Le Monde (France) and Lidové Noviny (Czech Republic) in what is becoming a staple high-level dialogue on the health of print media. On the agenda: Is the press maintaining high editorial standards online or is there a rush to be first with the news at all costs? Are print journalists being forced to take on too many roles in the multi-platform world of print, web, podcast and video clip and if so, is quality suffering? Do editors-in-chief from old and new EU Member States have any common views on media pluralism that could help the European Commission in its quest to devise indicators for measuring media pluralism? How could public funding of online activities of broadcasters come into conflict with freedom of the press?
[European Commission Press Release]

Mergers: European Commission clears Nokia's proposed acquisition of digital map provider NAVTEQ

noreply@blogger.com (Fina) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:40:00 +0000

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of NAVTEQ of the US by Nokia of Finland. NAVTEQ is a provider of navigable digital map databases and Nokia mainly produces mobile telephones. After an in-depth examination, launched in March 2008, the European Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]