COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS - on "Europe at the Forefront of the Global Information Society: Rolling Action Plan"
Date: 1996-11-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European social policy, action programme, information technology, new technology, telecommunications

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  27.11.1996 
COM(96)  607  final 

COMMUNICATION  FROM  THE  COMMISSION 

TO  THE  COUNCIL,  THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT, 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
AND  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  REGIONS 

'Europe at the Forefront of the Global 
Information Society:  7 
RollmgAetiongkfaZ^M+ti 

;û, 

CONTENTS: 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

Introduction 

The Priorities of the Rolling Action Plan 

The Goal of the Rolling Action Plan 

Conclusions 

Annex 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for the Information  Society 

INTRODUCTION 

The  information  society  is  not  a  challenge  for  the  future  but  one  for  the  present.  Decision 
makers  are  now  fully  aware  that  Europe's  future  in the global  economy  will  be  shaped  by  the 
speed and success with which it exploits the opportunities  arising from  the new information  and 
communication  technologies (ICT). 

Momentum  towards  the information  society  is already  building up  in Europe at a  breath-taking 
pace.  But  major  tasks  are  still  ahead  of  us.  The  key  challenges  are  to  ensure  that  Europe 
remains  at  the  forefront  of  the  new  global  and  networked  society  and  that  European  citizens 
equally  enjoy  its benefits. The EU must therefore  focus  on  an  effective  implementation  of all 
aspects  of the  information  society. 

Considerable  progress  has already  been achieved  since the  adoption  in  July  1994  of an  Action 
Plan  defining  a  comprehensive  strategy  and  a  set  of  measures  aimed  at  taking  the  European 
Union  into the information  society: 

S  The  liberalisation  of the telecommunications  sector  has been  successfully  launched  and 
will be completed by the  1st of January  1998, hence triggering the development  of  new 
services  and  promoting  their  widespread  uptake.  The  stakes  in  tenus  of job  creation 
and  competitiveness  are  particularly  high  since  the  ICT  market  had  an  astonishing 
growth  rate of  8% in  1995 and is bound to grow even faster  in the  future. 

•f  Considerable  effort  has been devoted to ensuring that  the social  and  societal  dimension 
of  the  information  society  is  fully  taken  into  consideration  and  to  supporting  regional 
information  society  initiatives in order to enhance  cohesion. 

•f  The  recognition  of  the  vital  role  of  education  and  training  in  the  race  towards  the 
increased  participation  and  employabrlity  of  European  citizens  has  lead  to  the 
formulation  of an ambitious  Europe-wide learning action plan. 

S  Support  is  being  given  to  the  development  of  the  emergence  of  a  strong  European 
multimedia  content  industry  which  is  expected  to  create  1 million  new jobs  over  the 
next  10 years. 

•S  The  specific  ICT  programmes  of  the  4th  RTD  Framework  Programme  are  being 
successfully  implemented  and  the  preparation  of  the  5th  Framework  Programme  has 
been  launched. 

S  The  Commission  has  been 

the  successful  outcome  of  major 
international  events aiming to develop global  rules  underpinning  the swift  development 
of the global  information  society. 

instrumental 

in 

With  these  actions  the  Commission  has  established  the  building  blocks  of  the  information 
society  in  Europe  and  has  significantly  contributed  to  raising  awareness  of both  the  public  and 
decision  makers.  The  necessary  climate  has  therefore  been  created  for  unleashing  the  creative 

"lùiropc's  way to the information  society: An Action  Plan" COM  (9-4) 3<47  of the  V)\\\ July  I *•)lM 

potential  and  entrepreneurial  spirit  of  Europeans  and  has  put  Europe  at  the  forefront  of  the 
drive  towards  the  infomiation  society. 

to  Dublin 

Society:  From  Corfu 

The  present  Communication  comes  as  a  follow  up  to  the  July  1996  Communication  entitled 
"Information 
-  The  new  emerging  priorities.  "  which 
announced  an  updated  and  revised  Action  Plan  in  order  to  launch  a  second  phase  of  the  EU 
information  society  strategy.  This  action  plan  addresses  Community  actions  which  arc 
complementary  to  those  undertaken  by  the  Member  States.  The  Rolling  Action  Plan  will  be 
complemented  in  the  future  by  an  overview  of  the  transposition  of  the  European  regulator}' 
framework  into the  national  legislation  of the  Member  States  particularly  with  respect  to  the  1st 
of  January  1998  deadline.  This  forms  an  important  part  of the  employment  pact2. 

II. 

T HE  P R I O R I T I ES  OF  T HE  R O L L I NG  A C T I ON  PLAN 

the  huge  market  potential  offered  by 

Driven  by  the  digital  revolution  and  global  competition,  the  private  sector  has  started  investing 
in  and  exploring  new  market  opportunities.  The  success  of  the  Internet,  the  booming  mobile 
communications  market  and  the  emerging  multimedia  content  industry  are  only  a  few  examples 
of 
infomiation  society.  These  developments 
the 
demonstrate  that  whenever  technology  offers  attractive  and  cost-efficient  solutions  to  meet 
consumer  needs,  and  whenever 
in  a  competitive  environment, 
investment  and  economic  output  grow  with  breath-taking  speed  and  new  job  opportunities 
become  available. 

is  operating 

the  market 

Another  key  factor  for  the  success  of  the  information  society  is  its  social  acceptability.  The 
infomiation  society  is  bringing  fundamental  changes  in the  way  we  live  and  work  in  a  period  of 
high  unemployment.  This  situation  brings  uncertainties  and  poses  big  challenges  for  workers, 
citizens,  enterprises  and  public  institutions.  Therefore,  to  ensure  social  acceptance  of  the 
information  society  in  Europe,  it  is  essential  to  meet  these  challenges  with  public  policies  that 
provide  opportunities 
the 
organisation  of  enterprises,  reinforce  social  cohesion  and  cultural  diversity  and  enhance 
people's  ability  to  participate  in the  infomiation  society. 

the  employability  of  workers,  support  change 

to  develop 

in 

Experience  has  shown  that  the  success  of  Europe  in  the  infomiation  society  will  not  only 
depend  on  how  telecommunications  and  new  services  are  regulated  or  deregulated,  but  also  on 
a  wider  range  of  factors  amongst  which  innovation  plays  a  central  role.  For  example,  by  setting 
GSM  as  a  world  standard,  the  EU  has  ensured  that  most  GSM-relatcd  investments  and  jobs  arc 
to  be  found  in  Europe.  Internet  on  the  other  hand  is  a  success  story  for  the  USA  which  enjoy 
the  main  benefits  in  terms  of  investment,  job  and  market  shares  (e.g.  amongst  the  world's  100 
most  visited  Web  sites  of the  Internet,  not  a  single  one  is  European). 

The  development  of  the  information  society  requires  changes  which  still  have  to  overcome  a 
inertia  and  psychological  resistance  as  well  as  financial 
certain  degree  of  organisational 
constraints.  This  is  extremely  hard  to  achieve  in  a  period  characterised  by  high  unemployment, 
pressure  on  social  benefits  and  budgetary  restrictions.  Whilst  the  implementation  of  the 
information  society  is  mostly  taking  place  at  national,  regional  or  local  level,  the  value-added  of 
Community  level  actions  is  to  set  up  a  common  framework,  to  co-ordinate  various  activities 

Action  Plan  lor  employment  m  Kuropc:  A  confidence  pact  (  CSP  (%)  1 ) 

and  to  act  as  a  catalyst.  Therefore,  the  Rolling  Action  Plan  aims  to  harness  and  give  more 
impetus  to the implementation  of the various  measures  taken  at  Member  State  level. 

The  main  policy  objectives  of  the  Rolling  Action  Plan  have  already  been  outlined  in  the 
Communication  "The  implications  of  the  information  society  for  European  Union policies  -
Preparing  the next  steps"1.  The  Rolling  Action  Plan  also  draws  upon  valuable  input  from  the 
European  Parliament4,  the  Council  ,  the  Information  Society  Forum5,  the  High  Level  Expert 
Group  and  the  Industry  Advisory  Group  as  well  as  from  the  assessment  of  technological  and 
international  developments.  It  is  therefore  the  result  of  a  wide  reflection  process  on  the 
infomiation  society which has led to the identification  of four  new  priority areas: 

1)  Improving 

through 

the  efficient 

the  business  environment 

and  coherent 
implementation  of  the  liberalised  telecommunications  environment  and  the  thorough 
application  of the  internal  market principles  (i.e. the  free  circulation  of goods, the  free 
provision  of  services,  the free circulation  of capital  and  the  freedom  of  establishment) 
in the infomiation  society context. Actions are also outlined to promote the  introduction 
of  new  technologies  into  daily  business  activities,  in  particular  with  respect  to  SMEs 
and  for  the promotion  of satellite personal  communication  services  (S-PCS)  in  Europe. 
Ensuring  that  the  necessary  conditions  are  met  for  the  introduction  of  electronic 
commerce  (e.g.  copyright,  data  protection,  digital  signatures,  etc.)7  is  also  a  major 
priority. 

2)  Investing  in  the  future  primarily  depends  upon  the  recognition  that  the  infomiation 
society  starts  in the  classroom.  The Florence  Summit  gave  impetus  to the  educational 
dimension  of  the  EU  information  society  strategy  by  asking  the  Commission  to  adopt 
an  initiative,  "Learning  in  the  information  society"",  which  now  needs  to  be 
implemented.  However,  adapting  educational  structures  and  the  learning  process  is 
mainly a responsibility of the Member States. At the same time emphasis  must  also  be 
placed  on  life-long  learning  to enable  European  citizens,  whether  in their  capacity  as 
consumers  or  participants  in  the  job  market,  to  adapt  to  the  emerging  infomiation 
society.  Broadly  speaking,  the  information  society  is  also  a  generation  phenomenon. 
Only  by  introducing  specific  actions  focusing  on  the  younger  generation  can  the  best 
conditions  be  prepared  for  access  and  acceptance  of  infomiation  society  by  the 
population  at large. 

Technologies  in the information  society are developing  fast  and  if one  fails  to enter  the 
technology  race on time, it may  result  in  an  exclusion  from  the  corresponding  market. 
It  should  therefore  be  clear  for  European  businesses  that  keeping  abreast  of  the  fast 
pace  of  global  technology  development  often  requires  substantial  investment  at  a 
relatively  early  stage  of  market  development  (e.g.  the  development  of  digital  TV, 
satellite  communications  and  interactive  multimedia  services).  This  would  allow 
European  players to be better  represented  in key emerging  markets.  In  this  context,  the 

3 

•1 

5 

6 

7 

S 

COM (96)  395 of the 24th  of July  1996 

1 ierman  Report  of the  19th of September  1996 

Resolution  on "New political  priorities  regarding  the  information  society.  Mh of October  1996 

Networks  for  people and  their  Communities  - June  1996 

The  Commission  envisages  to  launch  a  new  strategic  initiative  to  identify  and  remove  the  barriers 
to the development  and  take-up of electronic  commerce 

COM  (96) -171 oflhe  2nd of October  1996 

Action  Plan  refers  in  particular  to  the  Commission's  formal  proposal  for  the  Fifth 
Framework  Programme  to  be  presented  in  March  1997  where  detailed  proposals  on 
overall  research  priorities for  the EU will be set out.  A new specific  programme  will be 
devoted  to the promoting the development of a user-friendly  information  society 

3)  The  far-reaching  implications  of  the  information  society  for  the  citizen  have  triggered 
an  avalanche  of  discussions,  comments  and  suggestions  on  how  to  put  people  at  the 
centre.  Following the consultation  process on the Green Paper  "Living and working in 
the  information  society:  People first",  the  Commission  will  establish  a  number  of 
actions  to  address  the  key  issues  identified  in the  Green  Paper  and  related  documents. 
This  will  be  completed  by  further  actions  arising  from  the  debate  on the  Green  Paper 
on  "Work  organisation'.  At the same time, the process  of using the  advantages  of the 
information  society  in  the  context  of  regional  policy  to  promote  European  cohesion 
must  be  addressed.  Another  important  clement  in  this  context  is  the  protection  of 
fundamental  rights  and  freedoms,  such  as  the  right  to  privacy,  in  the  infomiation 
society.  As  regards  the  crucial  issue  of job  creation,  a  significant  number  of  new 
employment  opportunities  will  result  from  developments  in  the  services  and 
content  sectors,  in  particular  through  new  business  activities  such  as  electronic 
commerce and multimedia content  creation. 

interoperability  and  standards.  The  successful  completion  of 

4)  While the initial  Action  Plan did not fully  reflect  the  importance of global  co-operation, 
it  is  now  clear  that  setting  global  rules  is  an  essential  clement  of  the  infomiation 
society.  Global  rules  concern  market  access,  intellectual  property  rights,  privacy  and 
data  protection,  harmful  and  illegal  on-line  content,  tax  issues,  infomiation  security, 
frequencies, 
the 
multilateral  negotiations  on basic telecommunications  services  in the  context  of the 
the 
WTO 
establishment  of  such  ground  rules.  In  addition,  a  review  of  European  laws  and 
policy  positions  must  be launched  with a view to  reaching  international  agreements.  In 
this  context,  the  Commission's  negotiating  powers  need  to  be  enhanced  in  order  to 
strengthen  the  EU's  negotiating  position  at  international  level.  Meanwhile,  appropriate 
follow-up  actions  are  required  in  accordance  with  the  conclusions  of  the  conferences 
held  recently  with  the  Mediterranean  countries.  Central  and  Eastern  European 
countries and the developing world. 

(World  Trade  Organisation)  are  of  primary 

importance 

for 

III. 

T HE  G O AL  OF  T HE  R O L L I NG  A C T I ON  PLAN 

The  goal  of  the  Rolling  Action  Plan  is  to  present  a  list  of  all  important  actions,  in  particular 
legal  measures,  required  to further  implement  the information  society  in  Europe.  It presents  an 
updated  and  comprehensive  overview  of  the  main  Community  measures  related  to  the 
information  society, and thus fulfils  four  major  functions: 

1)  It  provides  information  about  forthcoming  Community  initiatives  in  a  consistent  and 
transparent  way,  thereby  serving  as  a  navigation  tool  for  the  Member  States  and 
other  European  institutions,  in  particular  the  Parliament.  An  equivalent  level  of 
claritv and  transparency  would  be most welcomed  at  Member  State  level. 

2)  It provides detailed  information  about  the development  of the  regulatory  framework  to 
the business  sector,  in particular  private  investors,  thereby  serving  as  a guidance  tool 
for investment  decisions. 

3)  It provides open  infomiation  to all  interested  parties,  in particular  the public,  about  the 
direction  of EU policy, thereby  allowing  for timely  reactions  and  suggestions  as well 
as  a  constructive  dialogue  between  the  Commission  and  all  relevant  segments  of 
society  in a user-friendly  and democratic way. 

4)  In addition,  as the  infomiation  society  impacts  virtually  on all  policy  areas,  the  Action 

Plan also provides a useful  internal  management  tool  for the  Commission. 

IV. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The  Commission  invites  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament,  as  well  as  the  Social  and 
Economic  Committee and the Committee of the Regions, to debate the  issues  involved  and  give 
political  backing to the development of this Rolling Action  Plan for  information  society. 

A n n ex 

E U R O P E 'S  ROLLING  ACTION  PLAN 
FOR  I N F O R M A T I ON  SOCIETY1 

TABU-  OF  C O N T E N TS 

1)  The  structure  or  the  Rolling  Action  Finn 

2)  The  mtormation  society  World  Wide  Web  Server 

3)  The  actions 

B.  PENDING  AND ON-GOING ACTIONS 

1. Improving the Business  Environment 
2. Investing in the Future 
3. People at the Centre 
4. Meeting the Global Challenge 

C.  ACCOMPLISHED  ACTIONS 

1.  Improving  the  Business  Environment 
2.  Investing  in  the  Future 
3.  P e o p le  at  the  Centre 
4.  M e e t i ng  the  Global  Challenge 

17 

17 
22 
22 
25 

i ll  ni 

\( 

i\  i  i n i ' ii 

\')' 

1.  T HE  S T R U C T U RE  OF  T HE  R O L L I NG  A C T I ON  P L AN 

The  initial  1994  Action  Plan  was  organised  along  four  lines  <"••: action: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the  regulatorv  framework 

networks,  basic  services,  applications  and  content 

social,  societal,  and  cultural  aspects 

promotional  activities 

T he  Rolling  Action  Plan  has  a  two-layer  structure.  T he  first  layer  describes  the  current  status  ot 
the  different  actions: 

• 

• 

• 

Part  A  presents  forthcoming  actions 

Part  B  presents  pending  and  on-going  actions  (i.e. 
have  not  vet  been  finalised) 

.cnons  that  have  been  initiated  but 

Part  C  presents  the  actions  that  have  been  completed  since  the  adoption  of  the  original 
Action  Plan  in  Iulv  1994. 

This  structure  has  been  chosen  in  order  to  allow  for  a  rolling  Action  Plan.  It  must  be  noted  that 
the  initial  Action  Plan  was  constantlv  adjusted  and  expanded  -  but  only  tor  internal  puiposes  and 
tor  a  regular  and  comprehensive 
not  as  a  political  instrument.  T he  new  structure  will  allow 
official  update  of  the  Action  Plan. 

The  s e c o nd  laver  is  built  upon  the  policv  priorities  idcnt:::ed  in  the  Communication  on  "The 
implications of the ir.:or??ution  society for  TAJ  poliaes."  i.e.: 

• 

• 

• 

improving  the  business  environment 

investing  in  the  future 

people  at  the  centre 

•  meeting  the  global  challenge. 

T he  same  structure  is  used  tor  all  three  parts  m  order  to  ensure  the  coherence  ot  the  document 
as  well  as  to  facilitate  reading. 

2.  T HE  I N F O R M A T I ON  S O C I E TY  W O R LD  W I DE  WEB  S E R V ER 

In  order  to  give  interested  parties  a  complete  and  updated  picture  of  Commission 
information 
society-related  activides,  a  dedicated  "World  Wide  Web"  server  has  been  set-up  by  ISPO: 
(http://www.ispo.cec.be)  which  has  already  been  providing  information  to  over  a  hundred 
thousand  users  per  month  (see graphical  representation  below). 

ITirthermore,  the  "Rolling Action  Plan" Web  page  will  be  linked  through  hvpertext  links  to  other 
relevant  Web  pages,  tor  instance  those  related  to  the  G7  "Global  Inventory"  project  and  the 
European  Commission's  "European  Survey  of  Information  Socictv  (HSIS)"  which  hold 
informadon  about  major  public  and  private  information  socictv  initiauves. 

The  server  will  also  provide  informadon  on  sources  ot  financing,  forthcoming  calls 
proposals,  as well  as, announce  relevant  conferences  and  studies. 

for 

ISPO Web  server  access 
Monthly hits  February  95 •  October  96 

242696 

Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun 

Jul  A ig  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  '  May  Jun 

Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct 

I M '(  )  |..  i!n-  l i i i i i n n . i t i on  S o i i i ' lv  I ' l o i ' V!  (  Mli. 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision Making 
jPmccss 

Calender 

F.\pfan.itiii!is »  Implications 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ j ^ y ^ j y ^ ^ ^ j ^ j ^ ^ j j ^ ^ ^ ^ j ^ j ^ ^ j ^ j^ 

l U U W W W i W U U i U i l i i U i l U UW 

i i i i i ^^ 

UUlUUUUUUMHUMUUWiiMiiiiUlHMtiUWIMeMUMI 

Momm 

Communication  on  a  guide 
to  the  regulatory  framework 
of the  information  society 
(1998  packet) 

imiaiuiiiiiiiiiii 

Communication  on  the  EU 
and space:  fostering 
applications,  markets and 
industrial  competitiveness 

illii!!!!!!!! 

mMmM 

Communication  and 
directive on  secure 
transactions  including 
digital  signatures  in 
electronic  commerce 
Communication  on  a 
European  standardisation 
initiative  for  electronic 
commerce 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

Commission 
adoption 

11-97 

Commission 
adoption 

1 Q 97 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

taliii!!!!!!! 

:::::::::::::::::::: 

!!1SS!!!IH!1!! 

Communication  on an 
internal  market  framework 
for  new on-line  commercial 
communications  based on 
home country  control  and 
mutual  recognition 
Communication  on 
information  society  and 
industrial  aspects 

Commission 
adoption 

1  Q97 

Commission 
adoption 

3-97 

WÀJJWMiàààMtUMWiiàiàààiàUIMiWUàiiilLUimààUuA 

After  final  adoption  of the  1998 package of 
measures, this Communication  will be 
published  as a guide to illustrate  for  users the 
impact  of the  1998 package and  to show the 
inter-relationship  in a non-technical  way 
between  different  measures  regarding  the 
information  socictv. 
The  Commission  proposes  to implement  new 
actions  to contribute to the development of 
applications  of space-related  activities  in the EU 
in the fields  of telecommunications,  navigation 
and  earth  observation. 
Initiatives  in order  to set  the  necessary  frame  for 
commercial  transactions  via  the  networks. 

The  Communication  will  analyse  Europe's 
position  in the standardisation  for  electronic 
commerce,  identify  technical  barriers of 
electronic  commerce  services and  submit 
proposals  on the dissemination  of standards, in 
particular  for  SMEs. Finally,  the  role of public 
authorities  in the standardisation  process  for 
electronic commerce will  be  elaborated. 
This  Communication  will  be a follow-up  to the 
consultations  held  in the  framework  of the 
Green  Paper  on commercial  communications 
(COM(96)  192) which  was adopted  on K-5-96. 

The  Communication  will  contain  an analysis of 
the  transformation  trends  in the  European 
industry  due to the impact  of  ICT, both  with 
respect  to the production  processes  and  in 
management  and  organisation.  It  identifies  the 
potential  benefit  of ICT  for  industry  as a 
strategy  for  improving  competitiveness. 

r..,;c  -1 
I'I ml  (l..lc  1  1  2<<V(>.  ^:^') 
. m n i K \X  1  d oc 

I ' M. 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision  Making 
••• -Process 

Calender 

Explanations - Implications 

Commission 
adoption 

3-97 

Commission 
adoption 

4 Q 96 

ill! 

"  ! 

[JOT 

| 

Communication  on  the 
application  of the 
competition  rules to access 
agreements  in  the 
telecommunications  sector. 

Communication  on the 
assessment  criteria  for 
national  schemes  for  the 
costing and  financing  of 
universal  service  and 
guidelines  for  the  Member 
States on the operation of 
such  schemes. 

Communication  on  the 
evaluation  of the TEDIS 
programme:  Assessment 
and  future  steps 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

Decision  on the  extension 
of the Action  Plan  for  the 
introduction  of advanced  TV 
services  in Europe 
Decision  on an  action  plan 
for  the deployment  of GNSS 
(Global  navigation  satellite 
systems  in  Europe)  and 
bilateral  agreements  with 
certain  third  countries 

Commission 
adoption 

1  Q 9-

Commission 
adoption 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

1 Q9~ 

97 

jpg 

f  S? 

= : : : : : : ; : : : : : : : : : : : :3 

Document  setting out competition  law 
principles  to increase legal  and  economic 
certainty.  In particular:  (i) summarising  past 
decisions, (ii) clarifying  relations  between 
competition  law and article  100A-based 
harmonisation  directives,  (iii)  explaining 
application  of competition  rules  to converging 
sectors, especially  access  issues and  gateways. 
In order  to assist Member  States in  preparing 
national  reforms  in advance of full  liberalisation 
of télécoms in  1998. this  Communication 
identifies  the principal  elements  that  the 
Commission  will assess  in  looking at  national 
universal  service schemes which  must be 
notified  to the Commission  by the end  of  1996. 
It also  provides detailed  guidelines, building on 
the existing principles  within  Community  law. 
which  are designed  to develop best  practice in 
national  approaches  to the costing  and 
financing  of universal  service. 
The  Communication  will  provide an  evaluation 
of the TEDIS programme  which  deals with  the 
promotion  of the use of EDI  in the  private 
sector  and  focuses  on  SMEs.  Further 
consideration  will  in particular  be given to 
promoting  the communication  links between the 
private  and  the public sectors and  on  focusing 
on  SME  needs. 
The  Commission  is developing  a proposal  for a 
follow-up  to the first  wide-screen  Action  Plan  in 
order  to complete the  introduction  of the new 
format  into broadcasting. 
The GNSS  rolling action  plan  provides a 
framework  for  the deployment  of GNSS in 
Europe.  It will  present  the  remaining  technical 
and  institutional  activities  to be carried  out to 
implement  the  European  contribution  to the 
global  system. The Commission  will  also 
propose  to begin  formal  negotiations  with  the 
other  major  players,  in  particular  the  USA, 
Russia  and  Japan. This  communication  follows 
a  Communication  on the  same  subject 
[COM(94)248| and a resolution  of the EP in 
May  94 on space transport  policy. 

'lifflHIIPipi 

Directive  on  the access to 
media  ownership 

Commission 
adoption 
COM  (96) 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

4th  Q % 

:  Divergent  rules on  media  ownership  may cause 

;  lo the  freedom  of establishment  of  media 

companies within  the  community. 

9" 

I ' r i ni  cl.ilo:  1 \I2U  <)(>.  1:.\<) 

I ' M. 

i n n n c xX  I  d oc 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

S|H-vittl-  M c . l M l l l" 

D n i s i on  M a k i ng 

>ns  -  I i u p l i i . i l i o i iv 

m 

m 

Directives on the 
harmonisation  of certain 
authors'  rights  and  related 
rights 

Commission 
adoption 

2 Q 97 

Council and EP 
adoption 

97 

Directive on the legal 
protection of encrypted 
services 

Consultation Documents 
Green  Paper  on the 
implications of the 
regulatory framework  for 
telecommunications, 
audiovisual  and  publishing 

Commission 
adoption 

1 Q 97 

Council  and EP 
adoption 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

97 

As announced  in the Commission's  draft 
Communication  on the matter, this  instrument 
proposes to further  harmonise a number of 
copyright and  related  rights  aspects, where 
necessary for the proper functioning  of the 
Internal Market  in the I.S. and the needs to 
bring about a favourable  environment  which 
protects and stimulates creativity  and 
innovation across Member  States. 
The Directive will establish a  common 
framework  for  the legal protection of encrypted 
services in the EU. 

This Green Paper will examine the  regulatory 
implications  of the increasing convergence of 
the telecommunications,  audiovisual  and 
publishing  industries and will  make  appropriate 
proposals. 

ilfiliyi: 

::::::::::::::::::::! 

yii::::::::::j 

Communication  on the 
development of the use of 
multimedia as pedagogical 
means in the  Community 
Communication  on 
vocational  training  in the 
information  society 

Communication  on 
GI2000: Towards a 
European  Policy  Framework 
for  Geographic  Information 
(GI). 

Commission 
adoption 

Commission 
adoption 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

1997 

97 

illŒSiiiîHiiii! 

Decision on  the 5th 
Framework  Programme 
followed  by proposals  for 
the specific  programmes 

Commission 
adoption 

Council  and EP 
adoption 

1  Q97 

98 

Page  6 
Print  date:  1 1 / 2 6 / 9 6,  4 : 48  P M, 
n n n n c x 8 1 . d oc 

This Communication follows  the  Council 
Resolution  relating to educational  multimedia 
software  in the fields  of education  and  training 
of the 6-5-96 
This Communication  will constitute  the 
complement  to the Communication  on 
"Learning  in the Information  society"  (COM 
(96) 471). 
The objective  of the communication  is to raise 
awareness and  start a discussion  at the political 
level to be followed  by the development  of an 
action  plan.  GI is important because of its value 
for planning,  land  management,  marketing 
studies, environment,  renewable  energy 
resources, emergency  services, health  care, 
political  analysis etc. 
On  10-8-96 the Commission  adopted  a series of 
preliminary  guidelines for  the 5th  RTD 
framework  programme.  Without  prejudice  to 
the final  structure and content of the 5th FP, the 
identified  priorities for  future  research  are: 
unlocking  the  resources of the living world  and 
the ecosystem; creating a user  friendly 
information  society;  promoting competitive and 
sustainable  growth. 

/'-> 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

C'alvnJer 

Explanations - Implications 

Spicifu' MIMMU-<-> 

ilBiiiil  Communication  and 

directive on an Action Plan 
for the deployment of road 
transport telematics  in 
Europe 

Dicisjon M.ikiug 
Process 

Commission 
adoption 

1  Q 97 

iiiGÉJiiJiijJijii  Directive on  harmonisation 

measures for  VTMIS 

;]  (Vessel  traffic  management 
and  information  services) 

Commission 
adoption 

4Q 
98 

j n ^ & i i J i l l - D d ] ^^ 

13231! 

Follow  up of  Green  Paper 
"People First". 

Commission 
adoption 

1  Q97 

iiimnmiiiii»iij 
iiXSiH! 

Communication  on 
Cohesion  and  the 
information  socictv 

Commission 
adoption 

12-96 

The  Communication  is based  on the  Council 
Resolution  of 28-9-95 on the deployment of 
road  transport  telematics. 
The Action  Plan  is being elaborated  within  the 
High  Level Group on road  transport  telematics 
created  in December  1995. It will  propose an 
overall  European  strategy  to carry  out  this 
deployment,  with  legislation,  technical 
harmonisation  and co-ordination  of 
implementation  and financing  of RTT  projects 
(notably  through  the TEN-T budget). 
It will also address the basic  requirements  for 
the setting  up of traffic  information  and 
navigation  systems  in Europe. 
The Directive  will  present  a set of  measures 
directed  at the harmonisation  of VTS 
procedures,  the  level  of qualification  of 
operators,  the  level  of services,  the 
interoperability  and  interconnection  of VTMIS. 

An action  plan  will  be developed  to address the 
development  of new jobs and  working  patterns, 
co-operation  between  different  levels of public 
administrations,  review of  regulation,  awareness 
and  confidence  raising through  networking, 
harnessing  the  Structural  Funds,  identification 
of themes and  issues for  further  analysis. 

The  Communication  intends to clarify  the 
relation  between  the information  society  and 
cohesion  by indicating  a number  of actions  in 
the field of demand  stimulation,  regulatory 
environment  and  support  of supply.  It will 
particularly  concentrate  on  the potential  role of 
Structural  Funds  in this domain.  It  addresses 
regions,  member  stales,  telecom  operators  and 
service  providers. 
A Conference  on "Regions  and  the  information 
society"  (30/3 1-1-97) will  discuss  the ways to 
better  address  the  implications  of the 
information  society  in policy  actions  under  the 
structural  funds. 

I'.igc  7 
Print  date:  I  I/269<>.  \.\} 
annnexX  1  doc 

I ' M. 

/'* 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Specific Mi'iiMircs 

Decision Makin< 
PlIIVCSS 

Calender 

Explanation*-Implications 

ii^Siii 

Communication  on  the 
consumer  dimension  of the 
information  society 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

mm=\ 

Communication  on an 
action  plan  to combat  illegal 
and  harmful  content  on the 
Internet  and  similar 
networks 

Commission 
adoption 

6-97 

iii&siiiiiiiiiij 

Decision  on the 
development  of Guidelines 
for Trans-European  data 
communication  networks 
(TENS) for  administrations 
and  identification  of  projects 
of common  interest  for  IDA 

Hl-Z&l::::::::: 

Follow  up to the Green 
Paper on the protection of 
minors and  of human 
dignity and  new  audiovisual 
and  information  services 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

Commission 
adoption 

97 

••'•'•I  Consultation  Documents 
iil[2|7|J!Jii!i!i!  Green  Paper  on  access  to 
public  sector  information 

Commission 
adoption 

1 O  97 

I'iml  dale 

I l/26/Vr..  \ :  I 3  I'M, 

annncxS  I aloe 

The Communication  will examine  the 
respective benefits  and problems  facing 
consumers as a result of information  society 
developments and will  identify  areas of action 
both at a political  level  and  in practical  terms 
(such as the use of new  communications 
technologies  for  consumer  information  and 
education). 
The Communication  on  illegal  and  harmful 
content, that was adopted  by the  Commission  on 
the  16-10-96, indicates a number  of policy 
options  to combat  this type of content  on  the 
Internet.  The action  plan  will, after  discussion 
of these options with  the Council  and  EP. 
indicate the range of measures  neccssaw to 
implement  these policy options,  the  means  to do 
this and  the actors  responsible. It will  elaborate 
the measures  necessary  to ensure a coherent  set 
of actions at  the EU  level and  the  launching of 
these actions  into the global  context  and  will 
especially  address the question  of liability  for 
access and service providers. 

This follows  Council  decision  95/468/EC  of the 
6-11-95 adopting  the IDA programme, which 
invites the Commission  to present  the  Council 
and the EP new proposals following  the  mid 
term  programme evaluation.  This  proposal 
concerns the development  of guidelines  for 
TENS for  administrations  and  the  identification 
of projects  of common  interest  for  IDA in 
Europe. 
The development  of new audiovisual  and 
information  services will  require  new types of 
programme  content  as well  as  new ways o[ 
producing  and  financing  it.  It will  also  offer 
new opportunities  in terms of cultural  and 
linguistic diversity. The analysis of these  issues 
with  a view to identifying  ways of  encouraging 
the development  of new services will 
complement  other  initiatives  related  to the 
protection  of the  public  interest  in  audiovisual 
and  information  services. 

The  Green  Paper  is  published  in  the  context  of 
the  INTO  2000  programme.  It  will  invite  a 
public  debate  on  two  main  issues:  citizens 
access  to  public  information  and  exploitation  of 
public  sector  information  by  private  information 
content  providers  in  developing  value  added 
services. 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

IllMIM^iiiiliiiiii 

Green  Paper  on  Work 
Organisation 

DniM'.ti Mai 

l'mccss 

Commission 
adoption 

iiilpil 

Green Paper on public 
procurement "Pistes de 
reflection pour l'avenir" 

Commission 
adoption 

Kxplanations  -  Implications 

97 

97 

The  implications for  labour markets  and 
working lives of new forms  of work 
organisation,  including  telcwork,  enabled  bv the 
adoption of ICTs, and the roles of public 
administrations  and social  partners in raising 
knowledge and awareness are being  addressed. 

The  Green  Paper is intended  to provide a 
framework  for a wide-ranging  debate on a 
number of issues central  to the  Community's 
present and  future  public procurement  policy. 
One of the issues addressed  is electronic 
procurement  and  the key role of electronic 
tendering in further  enhancing  transparency 
and access to public  procurement. 

U U i H i W i U U U i i U W i U i U U U U i t t U U U i t U i U i t t ^^ HauHHBUHHHHHnmnraB 

mmrminmmiinnmmw 

. . ..  1 

.11J..U.1.I 

IP 

Communication on 
Information  Society  and 
Developing  Countries 

To be adopted  by the 
Commission 

1997 

IP1 

IP* 

International  Conference 
for a "Common 
understanding  on  means and 
conditions  governing  the use 
of global  information 
networks" 
International  Conference 
at G7 level on 
standardisation  aspects of 
information  society 

\\VM,r,,,-, 

:HII9EIMiiiiiii!il 

:!il3S!ii!!!!!i! 

International  Conference 
on the 3rd  annual 
information  society  Forum 
with  CEECs 
International  Conference 
with Latin  American 
countries on IS 
Round  Table on 
information  society  with 
Russia 

International 
Conference 

1 Q97 

International 
Conference 

9-97 

International 
Conference 

International 
Conference 

International 
Conference 

10-97 

4 Q 97 

97 

I'nnl  date:  1 I /2o/VY,.  }:  H  I'M. 

mniicxX  I .doc 

The Communication  is a follow-up  to the  ISAD 
Conference.  It will focus on the redefinition  and 
the re-oricntation of previous policies  to give a 
higher priority  in development  policies to 
telecommunications  infrastructures  and 
applications. 

This is an initiative proposed by the  German 
Government at the IS Council  of Oct-96.  It is 
intended  to address the issue of the  distribution 
of material  adversely  effecting  public order  and 
morality over electronic  networks. 

The Conference  is market  focused  and  aims to 
facilitate  the timely and coherent  development 
of the Global  Information  Society  (GIS) by 
identifying  and  promoting  the  resolution of 
outstanding  standardisation  issues. 

Support  will  be given  to the organisation  of  a 
Round  Table with  Russia  on  information 
society. The  round  table should  target 
govcrment  representatives,  associations, 
industrv  and  research  bodies. 

IS 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Spi-cilic Measures 

Decision Makins 
J'|1»Cl\S.S 

C'aUmltr 

J A|ilanaii(ins - Implications 

B. PENDING AND ON-GOING ACTIONS 

B.l.  IMPROVING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 

BMtlfJttBffli  Decision  for  guidelines 
covering  trans-European 
H HH 
S S ^ HB  Telecom  Networks  (TEN-
M B M BI  Telecom) 

Commission  adoption 

May-95 

Common  Position 
Conciliation 
procedure  launched 
EP and  Council 
adoption 

21-3-96 
9-96 

4th Q 96 

These guidelines cover the objectives,  priorities 
and broad  lines of measures envisaged  for  the 
development  of  trans-European 
telecommunications  networks, with  special 
focus  on generic services and  applications. 
Priorities will be on projects  of societal  interest 
which  have reached  a high  degree of  maturity 
and are economically  viable. 

BjjÏÏQHfl  Decision  on the allocation  of 
g g f l B f lj  wide-screen  broadcast 
m B H H il  funding  for the  introduction 
H B H HH  of advance TV services in 
|§l§§flfl§§§B  Europe 

Commission  adoption 
COM (96)  346 

7-961-97 

Call  for  proposal: 
1/96 

Call  for  proposal 

ijjjjjjiil  Decision  on an action  at the 
HJjjffllBflB  EU  level  in Lire field  of 
B j H BH  satellite  personal 
B B H HB  communication  services in 
H HH 

the EU 

Commission  adoption 
COM  (95)  529 

8-11-95 

Political  agreement 
on  Common  Position 

28-9-96 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

3-97 

Financial  support  mechanism  (Council  decision 
of 22-7-93  93/424/EEC) intended  to overcome a 
market  failure:  broadcasters  would  not  transmit 
in the wide-screen  format  without  wide-screen 
TV sets being available on the  market  and 
manufacturers  would  not  mass market wide-
screen  TVs without broadcasting.  It  targets 
broadcasters'  and  programme  producers'  extra 
cost  in order to overcome this problem.  Its 
indicative  targets arc a critical  mass of services 
supported  with  an  increasing  volume of wide 
screen  programmes.  (The  16:9 screen format  is 
the only globally-agreed  parameter  for  the 
future  of TV,  including  HDTV). 
The proposed  decision  provides for  a co 
ordinated  approach  to the awarding of 
frequencies  and  the  licensing at a national  level 
of the  new satellite based  personal 
communications  systems  in Europe. 

K o J HI  Directive on 
flflf§flflfll||H  interconnection  in the 
1  illfllill  context  of ONP and 
1  BJHHI  universal  service 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(96)  121 

19-7-95 

Common  Position 

18-6-96 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

1-97 

Within  the package of reform  measures  for 
1998. there  is general  support  for a common 
framework  for  interconnection  between  the 
traditional  operators and  new entrants.  This 
framework  will  assist  the achievement  of 
universal  service.  It will  create a stable 
regulatory  framework  for  interconnection  which 
is essential  in the  future  competitive 
environment. 

I'ayc  10 
I'nnl  dale:  1  |/2f>/Vf>.  3:13  I'M. 
annnevX i  iloc 

/c 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Specific  Measures 

I.\pl  mations  .  Implications 

^ ^ ^H  Directive on the  application 
^ ^ ^H  of open  network  provision 
^ ^ ^H  (ONP) to voice  telephony 
^ ^ ^H  and on universal  service  for 
^ ^ ^H  telecommunications  in a 
^ ^ ^H  competitive  environment. 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(96)419 

11-9-96 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

12-96 

R ^ ^H  Directive  updating  the open 
^ ^ ^ fl  network  provision  (ONP) 
^ ^ | fl  and  leased  lines  directives 

1I9HB  Directive on  licensing of 
^ ^ ^9 

telecommunication  services 

Commission 
adoption 
COM (96) 419 
Common  Position 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 
Commission 
adoption 

14-11-96 

12-9-96 . 
3-97 

14/11/95 

Political  agreement 
on Common  Position 

28-9-96 

3-97 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

The Directive  revises and  replaces the existing 
Directive  95/62/EC on  the application  of (ONP) 
to voice  telephony. 
It describes the scope of the universal  service  for 
telecommunications  which  must be available to 
all users  in the EU and  requires Member  States 
to ensure that  this service  is affordable,  taking 
into account  national  situations. 
The Directive also sets out  harmonised 
conditions  for the provision  of fixed  public 
telephone  networks and  publicly  available 
telephone  services  in the EU. 

As required  by Council  Resolution  93/C213/01 
the  Commission  tabled  measures by  1 Jan.  1996 
to implement  the  regulatory  framework  for a 
competitive  environment  in  1998. The 
adaptation  of ONP to this  new environment  is a 
central  clement. 

This directive  replaces the  two proposals  that 
the Commission  submitted  in  1'992  and  1993 on 
the mutual  recognition  of licences and  the  other 
authorisations  for  telecom  services and  satellite 
communications  services that  the  Council 
examined  under  the German  Presidency  in 
1994. 
The  new proposal, based  on  Article  100a. lays 
down  common  rules to apply as regards  the 
procedure and  conditions for  the grant  of 
general  authorisations  and  individual  licences 
for  telecom  services. 

fJtâ^H  Directive on a  regulatory 
n § §9  transparency  mechanism 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(96)  392 

24-7-96 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

97 

The document  proposes an  internal  market 
mechanism  which  would  ensure that  any  new 
national  proposals  for  regulation  of new  services 
would  be transparent  and  coherent  with  existing 
internal  market  principles. 

1';.!>•  I  1 
h  ml  dale:  I 1/26/';: 
unnncxX I .doc 

3:13  I'M, 

n 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Spécifie  Measure.' 

Calender 

- Implications 

B.2.  INVESTING  IN THE  FUTURE 

Decision on a specific RTD 
programme in Information 
Technologies  (ESPRIT) 

Council  adoption 
O.J.: 

11-94 

Further  Calls 

96-98 

Decision on a specific  RTD 
programme on  Advanced 
Communications, 
Technologies  and  Services 
(ACTS) 

Council  adoption 
O.J.: 

7-94 

Further  Calls 

96-98 

Decision  on a specific  RTD 
programme on  Telematics 
Applications 

Council  adoption 
O.J.: 

11-94 

96-98 

Further  Calls 

Decision  on a specific  RTD 
programme  in the field of 
transport 

Council  adoption 
94/914/EC 

15-12-94 

O.J.:L361 

31-12-94 

Decision  on a specific  RTD 
programme  on  targeted 
socio-economic  research 
(TSER) 

Further  Calls 

96- 97 

Council  adoption 

12-94 

Further  Calls 

96-  97 

Focused calls for  proposals were held on  15-
Dec-94,  15-Mar,  15-Jun.  15-Septand  15-Dcc-
95.  At least two calls in  1996. The  programme 
contributes to providing  technologies,  standards 
and best  practices for  information  society. A 
special  initiative to promote  electronic 
commerce  has been  launched. 

The ACTS programme  has been  implemented 
through  two major  calls for  proposals  in  1994 
and  1995 and  a complementary  call  in  1996. It 
now involves about  1000 organisations  in  158 
co-operative technology  development  projects 
and  over 300  trials on  National  Host 
infrastructures.  All  major  European  industrial 
interests arc  involved,  and  organisations  from 
over 38 different  countries  participate. 

The first  call  for  proposals closed on  15-3-95 
and a second  call  on  15-6-95 and a third  call 
closed on  15-1-96. A further  call  is to be 
launched  on  15-12-96. The  implications  for  the 
deployment  of services and  possible actions  arc 
being assessed  in areas such as healthcare, 
public administrations,  education  and  training, 
libraries and  related  areas,  transport, urban  and 
rural  development,  research  networks,  disabled 
and  elderly  people. 
The first  call  for  proposals  closed on  15-3-95 
and  a second  call  on  15-3-96. A third  call  will 
be launched  on  17-12-96 with a closing date of 
the  17-3-97. 
The programme  contributes  to integrating  into 
the transport  system a  number  of  technologies 
linked  to the  information  society  notably 
telematics  tools. The  programme  will  also 
assess the potential  policy  impact  of the use of 
such  technologies. 
Research  into the socio-economic aspects of the 
information  society  arc a  major  theme of the 
programme.  The first call  took  place  in  1995 
and  the second  in  10-96. 
Current  projects  include  socio-economic 
analyses of user-producer  interaction, 
application  in  the services  sector,  and  learning 
applications.  The second  call  includes  pathways 
to a European  I.S., quality  of working, 
domestic, social  and  political  life: and  effectue 
introduction  of  ICT into education  and  Irainmu. 

l';ii;c.  12 
Print  dale:  1 \/2(<,V(<.  3 :  H  I'M. 
.mniKwX 1 doc 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Sprvific  Measures 

Dicisimi M;ikin< 
PlIK'i'S.V 

C'iiliink'i-

lrA()l.iii.ili(tns - Implications 

B.3. PEOPLE AT THE CENTRE 

H  Decision  on the ADAPT-
H  BIS Community  Initiative 
H  under the Structural  Funds 

Commission 
adoption 

96 

Launching of  projects 

97-99 

»|  Decision  on the SIMAP 
ra 
IH  les Marchés  Publics) 

(Système d'Information  pour 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(95)  107 

The ADAPT-BIS (building  information  society) 
Community  Initiative will  reinforce  the support 
currently given  to facilitating  the adaptation  of 
workers to the'information  society and  the 
creation  of new jobs,  in particular  SMEs, and  to 
evaluating  and  promoting  innovations  in work 
organisation. 
The first  SIMAP projects were launched  in July 
1994 and entered  their pilot  phase  in  November 
1995, with  the participation  of all  Member 
States as well  as Norway,  Switzerland  and 
Iceland.  SIMAP aims to prepare the way for  the 
introduction  of electronic  tendering  procedures 
for  public procurement.  Electronic  tendering, 
will be further  addressed  in the  forthcoming 
Green  Paper  on  Public  Procurement. 

Over 25 trans-European  telematics  projects  arc 
being  implemented.  IDA users (EC and 
agencies, other European  institutions,  Member 
States administrations  ) will  gradually  migrate 
to the use of common  telematic  services which 
will be provided  through  TESTA  (Trans-
European  Services for Telematics  between 
Administrations),  which  is expected  to be in 
operation  towards the end  of  1997. 

Following  the adoption  of the general  directive 
(see  1.3)  progress  is being  made on  this 
measure, which  provides a specific  set of 
safeguards,  based  on the general  directive, but 
adapted  to the telecommunications  sector.  It is 
central  to maintaining  public confidence  in the 
emergence of.  in particular,  personal 
communications  in the  information  society 

OJ: C  138 

3-6-95 

Project  launch 

95 

Council  adoption 

20-1-95 

Council  adoption 
95/468/EC 

6-11-95 

Further  Calls 

96-97 

Common  position 

9-96 

EP and  Council 
adoption 

5-97 

Common  position 
SEC  96/1292 

7-96 

Regulatory  framework  for  transnational 
movement  of television  broadcasting  services. 

Adoption  by EP and 
Council  and  EP 
adoption 

1st Q 97 

lffi3j?3lfllll  Decision  on IDA 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^H  Programme:  Telematic 
H||f||t|H|Httiftt||IW||iW  interchange  of data  between 

p j n ^ ^m  Directive  concerning  the 
Bltfl|]Mltft«  processing  of personal  data 
WIWWHtWWHtiB and  the protection  of privacy 
IPlSlllffllH  m  t nc  telecommunications 
|tttftti||tttt||ft|i[f||f8  sector,  in particular  in the 
flgiiiliEiffl  Integrated  Services  Digital 

^ H ^ ^^  Networks  (ISDN)  and  in the 
BflllJIPftWi  public digital  mobile 
[!|{§W{|{Pffl  networks 
flolflflfffll  Directive  amending  the 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^m  " television  without 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^M  Frontiers"  Directive 

1'iiitl  dalo  1  |/26/'X.,  3:13  I'M. 
.innnoxX I  d>v 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Spmtk  Mt'iisuics 

Diiision M.ikins  * 

CnU-niliT 

l.\pi;in;itioiis  -  Implications 

1 ' l l t C C SS 

:-"' 

High  Level  Expert  Group 
on the Social and Societal 
Aspects of the information 
socictv 

Commission 
Decision 
First  interim  report 

Final  report 

21-2-95 

1-96 

12-96 

Information  Society  Forum 

Commission 
Decision 
(SEC (95)  287/7) 

21-2-95 

26-6-96 

First annual  report 

97 

Second  annual  report 

Inter-Regional 
Information  Society 
Initiative  (IRISI) 
a) initial  6  regions 
b) further  regional  strategies 
c) inter-regional  projects 

Memorandum  of 
Understanding 
(MoU) 

11-94 

Development of 
regional  strategics 

94-> 
3-97 

Regional  information 
society  initiative  (RISI) 
•  RISI  strategy  building 

(23  regions) 
•  RISI  2-pilot 
applications 

Launching  of  projects 

4 Q 96 

Duration  : 2 years 

Duration.  3 vcars 

!';U;c  14 
Print  date:  I 1/26/96,  3 A3 
aimnoxX  1  .doc 

I ' M, 

The Group published  its First Reflections  report 
"Building  the European  information  society  for 
us all", in January  1996. This  report focuses on 
the following  themes: employment,  work 
organisation,  the future  of work,  labour 
markets, social  cohesion,  regional  cohesion, 
education  and  training,  health,  culture,  media 
and democracy. 

The Forum  has  128 members from  five  main 
fields  of activity: users of the new technologies, 
social groups, content  and  service  providers, 
network  operators  and  institutions. 
The Forum  has published  its first annual 
entitled  "Netwoik  for  people and  their 
communities.  Making  the  most of the 
information  society  in the  EU". This  report 
focuses  on the following  issues: the  cultural 
dimension,  the future  of the  media,  sustainable 
development,  social  and  democratic values, 
employment,  education,  training  and  learning. 

IRISI attempted  to demonstrate  a  methodology 
based on subsidiarity  and  a bottom-up  approach 
for creating awareness  among  the  general 
public and  decision  makers. The six 
participating  [North  West  of England(UK), 
Nord Pas-dc-Calais(F),  Valcncia(E).  Central 
Macedonia  (GR) and  Picmonte(I)]  had to 
outline a strategy  on the  information  society by 
analysing  the base-line  situation  and  assessing 
the opportunities  for building  the  information 
society,  through  a concerted  effort  bringing 
together all  the  relevant  regional  actors.The 
innovative  nature of the  IRISI  approach  rests on 
the  institutional  mechanism  by which  strategy 
lias been developed,  i.e.  a partnership  between 
all key players  in a region.The success of the 
IRISI  initiatives  has convinced  the Commission 
to continue  in that direction  with a new 
generation  of innovative  actions  under  Art. 10 of 
the ERDF and  Art.6 of the  ESF. The  general 
approach  aims at  enabling  and  facilitating 
learning  processes  within  a given  region  and 
between  regions. The  initiative  has  meant  that 
nearly  25% of all eligible  regions  under  the 
structural  funds  arc currently  engaged  in this 
process of strategy  building  and  of  us 
translation  into an action  plan. 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Specific  M i a s m es 

Dtiisiitn  Making 
PlIKfSS 

( a l i n d or 

ilanatitms  -  Implications 

B.4. MEETING THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE 

Multilateral  Negotiations 
on basic  telecommunications 
services in the context of the 
World Trade  Organisation 
(WTO) 

Negotiations and 
Diplomatic  Conference of 
WIPO on the possible 
conclusion  of three 
international  treaties  (Treaty 
on certain  questions 
concerning the protection of 
literary and artistic works; 
Treaty on the protection of 
the rights of performers and 
producers of phonograms; 
Treaty on intellectual 
property with  respect to 
databases) 
Negotiations on 
Information  Technology' 
Agreements: 
Recommendations  on duty 
reductions for  information 
technology  products 

Decision  on a  specific 
programme on  international 
RTD cooperation  (INCO) of 
the 4th  Framework 
Programme  for RTD 

15-2-97 

12-96 

Commission 
negotiates on behalf 
of the  Community 
and  its Member 
States.  Coordination 
in the  113 Committee 

Commission 
negotiates on behalf 
of the  Community 
and  its Member 
States with  respect to 
matters of its 
competence 

The establishment  of ground  rules will be 
followed  by the exchange of commitments 
opening and securing  access to export  markets 
for EU industries. For the Union,  these shall be 
based  upon  the internal  liberalisation  process. 
The aim is to reach a conclusion  by  15 February 
1997 
The envisaged  treaties aim at setting  minimum 
standards of protection  for works and other 
subject  matter  in the information  society at 
international  level.  In view of the  Community 
competence  for copyiight and related  rights, the 
approval  of the  treaties by the European 
Community,  besides the Member  States is 
crucial. 

Commission 
negotiates on behalf 
on the Community 
and  its Member  -
States. 

Coordination  in the 
Article  113 
Committee 

Council  adoption 

Council  adoption 

Further  calls 

96-98 

96-97 

The cornerstone  of the agreement  is the 
elimination  of tariffs  for  information  technology 
products between, at minimum, a critical  mass 
of major  IT producing  countries. 

R&D projects  have already  been  launched  with 
third  countries  the process of execution  in the 
field  of communication  technologies and 
Telematics  applications. 
Further  calls will  address  information  networks 
for  SMEs and research  centres,  telcworking, 
telematics  applications  for  health  and education, 
language  engineering  and the creation  of a 
network  of Innovation  Relay  Centres. 

p..,-,,- 

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Pi  ml  J . He 

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3:13 

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Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Spwiik  Measures 

Diiisiitii Making 
l'lmcs.v 

C'aUnUcr 

Explanation* - Implications 

1 G7-Pilot  Projects 

2-95 

Launched  at the G7 
Ministerial 
Conference  in 
Brussels in  February 
1995. 

Information  society  Forum 
with  Central and  Eastern 
Europe  (Prague) 

12/13-9-96 

Follow  up actions on 
information  society  in the 
CEECs 

E * 

International  Conference 
on  'the creation  of the Euro-
1  K/fcrtitprranr>an  infinrmntinn 

1  socictv"  (Rome) 

I  Follow up of Euro-
1  Mediterranean  Conference 

97 

30/31-
5-96 

97 

As a result  of the G7 conference  in Brussels  in 
Fcb-95,  11 projects  have been  launched:  Global 
Inventory  Project,  Global  Interoperability  of 
Broadband  Networks,  Cross-cultural  education 
and  training,  Bibliotheca  Universalis, 
Multimedia  access to world  cultural  heritage. 
Environment  and  natural  resources 
management,  Global  emergency  management 
information  network  initiative,  Global 
healthcare applications,  Government  On-line. 
Global  marketplace  for  SMEs,  Maritime 
information  Systems. 

In June  1995, the first  Forum  on  the 
Information  Society was held  with  the countries 
of Central  and  Eastern  Europe.  A  follow-up 
meeting of the Forum  took  place  in  September 
1996 in order  to develop a workplan.  Four 
thematic  panels were set  up in order  to prepare 
the  next  meeting  of the Forum:  strategy  and 
policy for  I.S., implementation  of the Action 
Plan, education  and  training, application  of ICT 
in public  administrations. 

An  Action  Plan  has been  drawn  up outlining a 
number of future  actions. 

The  conference  focused  on the  cognitive 
dimension  of the  IS and  the  regulatory basis  for 
its development.  Workshops  were  held on: 
research  networks,  telecommunications 
regulatory  aspects and  for  educational 
dimension.  These  actions were  launched  as a 
follow-up  of the Ministerial  Euro-Mcd-
Confcrcncc  in  Barcelona. 
Following  the conference,  a follow-up  Action 
Plan  is being prepared  which  will  incorporate 
three types of  measures: dialogue  measures 
(workshops),  training  programmes  and  regional 
pilot  and  R&D  projects. 

i ' a i '0 

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I ' M. 

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Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision Making 
Process 

FAplanatious - Implications 

Implementation  of 
Directive  (91/263/EEC, 
April  1991) on the 
approximation  of the  laws of 
the Member  States 
concerning  telecom  terminal 
equipment,  including  the 
mutual  recognition  of their 
conformity  Mutual 
Recognition  Agreements 
(MRAs) 

Art.  10.5 of this Directive  states that  European 
regulator}' bodies shall  recognise  documentation 
issued  by third  country  relevant bodies, when 
agreements  between  the  Community  and  the 
third  country  concerned  have been  concluded. 
A mandate  has been given  by the Council  to the 
Commission  to negotiate  MRAs  for  the 
regulated  areas, by which  public authorities will 
recognise  the validity  of certificates  issued  in 
the territory of the other  country. 
Negotiations  are currently  taking place between 
the EU and  USA,  Canada.  New Zealand, 
Australia,  Switzerland  and  Japan. 
Preliminary  meetings  have  taken  place with 
Korea.  Singapore  and  Israel  in  1995. 

C. ACCOMPLISHED  ACTIONS 

C*l» Improving the business  environment 

300 

301 

302 

Communication  on 
consultation  on 
Infrastructure  Green  Papers 

Communication  on  the 
present  status and  future 
approach  for  open  access to 
telecommunications 
networks and  services  (Open 
Network  Provision  - ONP) 

Communication  on  the 
follow-up  to the  Green 
Paper  on copyright  and 
related  rights  in  the 
information  society 

Commission  adoption 
COM  (95)  158 

5-95 

Report  on the  results of the public  consultation 
on the  Commission's  proposal  for  action 

Commission  adoption 
COM (94) 513 

11-94 

Commission 
adoption 

1  1 -96 

The  Communication  confirmed  the  importance 
of the  ONP  principles  of open  and  efficient 
access  in the  liberalised  telccoms  environment 
from  1998.  It considered  the scope of 
application  of ONP and  launched  the debate 
prior  to the submission  of legislation  at  the end 
of  1995. 
The  Communication  will  contain  a brief 
assessment  of the consultation  procedure  around 
the  Green  Paper  and  set  out  the  Commission's 
working  programme  in  the field of copyright 
and  related  rights  in the  information  society  in 
the  framework  of the  Internal  Market. 

I ' a ye 

17 

1'iiiil  d a l e: 

I  1'2<<  '.><>.  3:  13 

I ' M, 

a n n n e xX  I 

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Europe's Rolling Action Plan for  Information  Society 

Specific  M e a s u r es 

Decision  MuKiiij 
P r m e ss 

(  alcmler 

i - A p l u r a t i i . - ns  •  Siiipli 

#03liÉ|ij  Communication  on 
Universal  Service  in 
telecommunications 

Commission  adoption 
COM (96) 73 

18-3-96 

304 

]  Communication  on  follow-

up to Green Paper  on  mobile 
& personal  communications 

Commission  adoption 
COM (94) 492 

23-11-94 
13-6-95 

Council  Resolution 

305 

1 Communication  on  the 

Commission  adoption 

10-10.-95 

future  development  of the 
market  in directories and 
other  telecom  information 
services  in a  competitive 
environment 

COM  (95) 43 

mm 

307: 

Communication  on  wider 
use of standardisation  to 
support  EU policy 

Communication  on 
"Standardisation  and  the 
global  information  society: 
The European  approach" 

Commission  adoption 
COM(95)412 

30-10-95 

Commission  adoption 
COM(%)  359 

24-7-96 

308 

Communication  on  the 
directive on  mutual 
recognition  of type approval 
for  terminals 

Commission  adoption 
COM(%)  I  14 

9-96 

Building on  the consensus established  around 
the  infrastructure  Green  Paper,  the  Commission 
presented  a survey of the  level and  availability 
of universal  service within  the EU.  It also drew 
together  the elements of the  1998 package 
relating to universal  service to propose a 
strengthening  of the concept  of voice telephony 
sen ices, in particular  with  regard  to 
affordability  and  quality  of service. It also 
examined  the impact of universal  service on 
regional  and  social cohesion,  criteria  for  its 
evolution  over time and  the  relationship 
between  universal  service and  the  information 
socictv. 

The  Communication  reported  on the views 
expressed  in  the Consultation  on the Mobile 
G.P. and  proposed  concrete  measures and a 
timetable to act  on the consensus which 
emerged.  On  the basis of this, political  support 
was sought  from  the Member  States. 
The communication  highlighted  the  importance 
of directory  services in the general  context of 
the information  society and  described  the 
guidelines  and  principles which  have been set 
out  for  directory  services  in various  directives 
and  other  Community  acts. Both the  EP and the 
Council  reacted  positively  to the 
communication  (Presidency  conclusions of 21st 
March  1996 Telecom  Council  and  EP 
resolution  of 22nd  May  1996). 

The aim  of this Communication  is to examine 
how.  in the  light  of the characteristics  of the 
ICT  market  and  the ICT standards  process, the 
best  possible conditions can be created  for  the 
drawing  up of standards  needed  for  the 
implementation  of the Information  Society, and 
to indicate  by what  means  the  Community 
intends to promote  those aspects  for  which it 
has particular  responsibility. 
The  report  was published  on  the  27th  of  March 
1996. 

'i  ml 

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11, 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision  Making 
PltlCCSS 

Calender 

Explanations.  Implications 

309 

Communication  for  the 
introduction  of  advanced 
television  services  in  Europe 

Commission  adoption 

7-96 

COM  (96)  346 

310 

Decision  on  guidelines  for 
TEN-ISDN 

2717/95/EC  Council 
and  EP  adoption 

9-11-95 

311 

312 

313 

Directive  amending 
Commission  Directive 
90/388/EEC  of  23-July-1990 
regarding  the 
implementation  of  full 
competition  in 
telecommunication  markets 

OJ: 

Commission  adoption 

13-3-96 

Directive  96/19 

OJ:  L  74/13 

22-3-96 

Directive  amending 
Commission  Directive 
90/388/EEC  of  23-July-1990 
regarding  the  abolition  of 
the  restrictions  on  the  use  of 
cable  TV  networks  for  the 
provision  of  telecom  services 

Directive  amending 
Commission  Directive 
90/388/EEC  of  23-July-1990 
regarding  mobile  and 
personal  communications 

Commission  adoption 

Directive  95/51/EC 

18-10-95 

26-10-% 

16-1-96 

OJ:  L  256/49 

Commission  adoption 
COM  (96) 
Directive  96/2/EC 

OJ:  L  20/59 

26-01-96 

Financial  support  mechanism  to  assist 
broadcasters  and  programme  producers  with 
extra  costs  of  introducing  wide-screen  16.9 
format.  The  16.9  screen  format  is the  only 
globally  agreed  parameter  for  the  future  of  TV, 
including  HDTV.  It  embodies  cinema/TV 
convergence.  Publication  of  a  call  96/2  for 
broadcasting  and  programme  production 
proposals  in  Oct  96. 
The  objective  is the  development  of  a  range  of 
services  and  applications  based  on  EURO-
ISDN:  A  number  of  projects  have  been 
launched  in  1995 and  the  1996  call  was  issued 
on  13  April  with  a  closing  date  of  24th  June. 

Following  political  agreement  on  the  full 
liberalisation  of voice  telephony  services  and 
infrastnicture,  this  measure  gives  legal  form  to 
the  date  of  the  1st of  January  1996  and  provides 
for  possible  transitional  periods  for  Greece. 
Ireland,  Portugal,  Spain  and  Luxembourg 
subject  to  Commission  approval.  The  measure 
also  provides  for  early  liberalisation  from  1996 
of  alternative?infrastructures  for  liberalised 
telccoms  services  and  sets  out  principles  under 
the  competition  rules  for  licensing. 
interconnection,  universal  service,  numbering 
and  directory'  services.. 

| 

j 
j 
j 
j 
j 

Following  political  agreement  on  the  early 
liberalisation  of  alternative  infrastructure  for 
s en  ices  which  arc  already  open  to  competition, 
this  measure  provides  for  the  use  of  cable 
television  networks  to  deliver  such  services 
from  1996.  It  also  provides  for  possible 
transitional  periods  for  Greece.  Ireland. 
Portugal.  Spain  and  Luxembourg  subject  to 
Commission  approval. 

The  measure  fully  opens  the  market  for  mobile 
communications  to  competition  as  foreseen  in 
the  1994  Mobile  Green  Paper.  It  provides  for 
self-provision  of  infrastructure  or  use  of  third 
party  infrastnicture  and  allows  from  1998  direct 
interconnection  between  mobile  networks.  It 
requires  Member  States  to  consider  requests  for 
licences  for  DECT  systems  from  1996  and  for 
DCS  1SOO digital  mobile  networks  from  1998 

n ut  i i : i i c.  1  1  2<>•,»C.  3 

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I l l l k ' VX  1  i|.  ic 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision M;ik'm« 
PlllCt'SS 

Calender 

FApI;uKttii>us - Implicit ions 

314 

Directive  on  the  application 
of ONP  (Open  Network 
Provision)  to  voice 
telephony 

: 

Commission  adoption 
COM(95)  575 

Directive  95/62/EC 

27-11-95 

Council  and  EP 
Adoption 

13-12-95 

30-12-96 

O J :L  321/6 

315 

Directive  on  satellite-
communications: 
liberalisation  of  satellite 
services  and  terminals 

Directive  94/46/EC 

13-10-94 

OJ:  L  268/15 

19-10-94 

31(5 

Directive  on  the  use  of  TV-
standards 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

24-10-95 

Directive  95/47/EC 
O.J.:  23/11/95  No. 
L281/5 

This  directive  has  been  re-submitted  at  the 
urging  of  EP,  following  its  rejection  of  the 
Council  Common  Position  in  July  1994,  the 
conciliation  procedure  having  failed  over  the 
issue  of  comitology.  The  proposal  builds  on  the 
agreements  reached  between  the  Council  and 
the  EP  during  the  conciliation  procedure.  The 
Directive's  three  fundamental  objectives  arc: 
-  determining  the  rights  of  the  users  of  voice 
telephony  services  in  their  relations  with 
telecommunications  bodies 
-  improving  access  for  all  users,  including  the 
providers  of  services,  to  the  fixed  infrastructure 
of  public  telephone  networks  (the  Directive  does 
not  apply  to  mobile  telephones) 
-  encouraging  the  provision  of voice  telephony 
services  at  Community  level  (see  also  A  1.10). 

Following  Council  Resolution  92/C8/01  the 
Directive  extends  the  scope  of  Directives 
88/301/EEC  and  90/388/EEC  to  remove 
monopolies  over  satellite  equipment  and 
services 

The  Directive  provides  a  regulatory  framework 
for  advanced  TV  (16:9.  digital.  HDTV) 
including  standards;  and  deals  with  the  issue  of 
conditional  access  to  digital  pay  television, 
following  the  outcome  of  an  industry-wide 
consultation  on  this  topic. 

317 

Directive  on  legal 
protection  of  databases 

Directive  96/9/EC 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

11-3-96 
27-03-96 

The  Directive  provides  for  the  harmonisation  of 
the  author's  right  relating  to  the  structure  of 
databases  and  for  the  creation  of  a  new  right 
protecting  substantial  investments  made  by 
makers  of  databases. 

318 

Green  Paper  on  numbering 

OJ:  L  77/20 
Commission 
adoption 

11-96 

The  rapid  development  of  the  telecom  market 
means  that  reform  of  the  numbering 
environment  will  be  inevitable.  This  reform  will 
need  to  be  based  on  an  agreement  on  the 
political  priorities,  stemming  both  from  the 
liberalisation  trend  and  from  changing 
technological  trends. 
The  technical  work  will  follow  on  from  this. 
The  Green  Paper  is  intended  to  initiate  a  broad 
consultation  with  sector  players  on  these 
matters. 

l':.ge  20 
I'rmt  d a t e:  I  I'2C.  '>(,.  .1:1.1  I ' M, 
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Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision  Milking 
I'liicess 

lalcmlcr 

lApfiiiiati.ins  -  Implications 

319 

Green  Paper  on the legal 
protection  of encrypted 
services 

Commission  adoption 
COM (96) 76 

6-3-96 

320 

321 

322 

Green  Paper on  the 
liberalisation  of telecom 
infrastructure  and  cable TV 
networks: principles & 
timetable  (Part I) 

Green  Paper on  the 
liberalisation  of telecom 
infrastructure  and  cable TV 
networks:  implementation 
measures  (Part  II) 

Green  Paper on  copyright 
and  related  rights  in the 
information  society 

COM (94) 440 

Council  Resolution 

17-11-94 

EP Resolution 

4-95 

COM (94) 682 

Council  Resolution 

13-6-95 

5-95 

Jul-95 

EP  Resolution 
May-95 
Commission 
adoption 

COM (95) 382 

323 

Recommendations  relating 
to the  legal  aspects of 
electronic  data  interchange 
(EDI) 

Commission  adoption 

19-10-94 

The  Green  Paper aims  to identify,  in the light of 
the  Internal  Market  principles, the  measures 
needed  to safeguard  the  legal  protection of 
encrypted  services at an equal  level  throughout 
the Community.  It is closely  related  to IPR 
protection,  to media policy and  to the Directive 
on satellite and  cable broadcasting  of 1993. 

The  Green  Paper establishes  the general 
principle of the free  choice of infrastructure  to 
deliver  services already  open  to competition.  It 
proposes  immediate  limited  action  and  links  full 
competition  to the  1998 date for  services 
liberalisation. 

The  Green  Paper  has  launched  a consultation  on 
the issues raised  by allowing competition  in 
infrastnicture  for  the basic telephone  service 
and  the  relevant  safeguards.  It sets out  future 
policy  on  infrastnicture  liberalisation  and 
initiates  public debate on the issues. 
The  Green  Paper  identifies  in detail  those  issues 
in the field of copyright  where  initiatives  may 
be needed  with  respect  to the IPRs exploited  for 
the  new electronic  services.  It is based on the 
conclusions  of a hearing with  inteiestcd  circles 
in July  1994. The deadline  for  written 
submissions  was end  October  1995. A hearing 
on certain  specific  questions  in  relation to 
technical  systems of identification  and 
protection  and  on certain  aspects  related  to the 
acquisition  and  administration  of rights took 
place  in January  1996. The consultation  process 
was closed  in the context  of a Conference  on 
the  matter  held  in Florence  in June  1996. 

EDI  users arc  recommended  to use a European 
model  EDI  Agreement  and  Member  States arc 
recommended  to facilitate  the use of this  model 
agreement,  which  legal  provisions  aim at 
providing  a contractual  approach  to the legal 
issues  related  to the  use of EDI. 

;';u'.o  2  1 
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Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision Making 

Calender 

F,\plan;itiiiiis - Implications 

-  FiiK'c.s.s 

CX INVESTING IN THE FUTURE 

324 

325 

Communication  on a 
methodology for  the 
implementation  of 
information  society 
applications 

Commission 
adoption 

COM (95) 224 

Communication  on 
Information  Society: From 
Corfu  to Dublin,  The new 
emerging  priorities 

Commission 
adoption 

COM (96) 395 

13-6-95 

24-7-96 

This  communications  proposes a 
methodological  approach  of a general  nature 
for  the  implementation  of all types of 
applications  which  represent  the driving  force 
of the information  society. 

The  objective  of this communication  is to 
indicate  the  impact  of the  information  society 
on  European  Union  policies, thereby 
highlighting  future  priorities:  improving of 
the business environment:  investing  in the 
future;  putting  people  at the centre;  meeting 
the  global  challenge.  The  information  society 
Council  of the 8-10-96 welcomed  the 
intention  of the Commission  to present a 
revised  action  plan  to the Dublin  Summit. 

C.3. PEOPLE AT THE CENTRE 

326; 

Communication  on 
telematics applications  for 
transport  in  Europe 

Commission 
adoption 

COM (94) 469  • 

4-11-94 

Resolution  EP 

6-95 

Council  resolution 
95/264/01 

28-9-95 

The communication  provides  the basis for  an 
action  plan  for  the  implementation  of Transport 
Telematics  in Europe.  Financial  engineering of 
public-private  partnerships  needs closer 
attention.  The  Council  Resolution  of  Sept-95 
concentrates  on Telematics  Applications  in 
Road  Transport,  identifies  priorities  for  short 
term  actions  and  recommends  the setting  up of a 
High  Level  group  to assist  the Commission  with 
the strategy  for  deployment. 

1'age  22 

Print  date:  1 l/2(./'>(>.  3  I 1  I'M. 
.miinexX  1  do.; 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision  Making 
Process 

Calender 

l,\pl,m.liions -  Implications 

327 

Communication  on 
Teaching and  learning -
Towards the learning society 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(96)471 

2-10-96 

328 

Communication  on  harmful 
and  illegal  content  on 
Internet 

Commission  adoption 

16-10-96 

COM  (96) 487 

329 

Decision  on the Media  II 
Programme 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(95) 263 

22-6-95 

Council  adoption 
95/564/EC 

22-12-95 

Council  adoption 
95/563/EC 

10-7-95 

330 

Decision  on guidelines  for 
the trans-  European 
transport  network 

Council  and  EP 
adoption 

OJ:  L228 

9-9-96 

I'agc  23 
I'rinl  date:  I 1/26/96.  3A3  I'M. 
iiiuncxX 1 .iloc 

Requested by the European  Council  at  Florence 
(June  1996), the proposed  action  plan  is aiming 
at increasing  the synergies among  national 
initiatives  to promote  the use of new 
technologies  in education.  The objectives  are to 
speed  up the diffusion  of common  multimedia 
platforms  for  learning,  the development  of 
quality educational  content,  the training of 
teachers and  the exchange of experiences 
through  setting up a European  school  network 
based  on the  interconnection  of existing  school 
networks. 
A European  conference  (Dcc-96, Brussels) will 
take stock of developments  in national  schools 
networks, as well as needs, experiences  and 
difficulties  encountered. 
The Communication  refers  to the legal  and 
regulatory  challenges  posed by content 
circulating  on the Internet,  giving  particular 
emphasis on the  issue of harmful  and  illegal 
content.  It proposes options  for  short  term 
action  to combat  or control  such content  (self-
regulation, technical  protection  means, 
improved  international  co-operation,  education 
and  awareness). 
Financial  support  mechanisms  for key sectors of 
the programmes  industry.  The  Commission's 
proposal  has two parts: 
MEDIA  II - training  (1996  - 2000). A 
programme  for the training  of professionals  of 
the European  audiovisual  programme  industry 
MEDIA  II  - development  and  distribution 
(1996  - 2000). This programme  aims to promote 
the development  and the distribution of 
audiovisual  works. 

Intelligent  transport  systems  (ITS)  for  traffic 
management,  positioning  and  navigation  is an 
integral  part  of the Trans  European  Networks-
Transport  guidelines. They  include  the 
necessary  technical  installations  and 
information  and  telecommunications  systems to 
ensure  harmonious and  efficient  traffic 
management.  All the priorities of the  guidelines 
such  as connections,  key  links,  interconnections, 
interoperability,  provisions  relating  to the 
environment,  the optimisation  of capacity  and 
efficiency,  safety  apply  to ITS and  require the 
use of  ITS  for  their  achievement. 

21 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information  Society 

Calender 

Explanations - Implications 

Specific  Measures 

ma 

Decision on  INFO  2000 
Programme 

mm 

Decision  on a  Multi-annual 
programme  on 
Multiligualism  in  the 
Information  Society 
Programme  (MLIS) 

Decision Making 
Pimccss 

Commission 
adoption 
COM (95)  149 

Council  adoption 
96/339/EC 
Commission 
adoption 
COM (96) 456 

30-6-95 

20-5-96 

2-10-96 

Council  adoption 

8-10-96 

O.J. : 

im 

Directive  on the  protection 
of individuals  with  regard  to 
the processing  of  personal 
data  and  on the  free 
movement  of such  data 

EP and  Council 
adoption 

24-10-95 

95/46/EC 

OJ: L 281/31 

23-11-95 

334 

Green  Paper:  Living  and 
working  in the  Information 
Society: People  first 

24.7.96 

Commission 
adoption 

COM(96) 389 

A  multi-annual  programme  to  stimulate  the 
development  of  a  European  multimedia  content 
industry  and  to encourage  the  use of  multimedia 
content  in the emerging  information  society. 

The  multiannual  programme  promotes 
multilingnalism  in the  information  society and 
has been allocated  a budget  of  15MECU. It 
includes the following  action  lines: 
a.  Support  for  the creation  of a framework  of 
services  for  European  Languages; 
b. Encouraging  the use of modern  language 
technologies,  resources and  standards; 
c. Promoting  the use of advanced  language  tools 
in the European  public  sector;  d.  Accompanying 
measures. 

The general  directive  provides  for  a number of 
rights  for  the data  subject  and  of obligations on 
the controller  of data  processing  (fair 
processing, quality  of data,  law- fullness  of 
processing,  notification  of certain  processing). 
The directive  is designed  to ensure a high  level 
of protection  for  individuals  and creates a level 
playing field for  the free  circulation  of personal 
data  in  the Community.  The  principles of the 
Directive apply  to all  areas  of the  Information 
Society  and  will  constitute  the basis for  specific 
rules  in the telecommunications  field 

The  Green  Paper  forms  the basis for  a wide 
discussion  on social, economic  and 
technological  challenges  in the context of 
employment  and  economic  structure,  future  of 
work,  labour  market  and  learning  and  living in 
the Information  Society. 
A consultative  process  was officially  launched 
in a Colloquium  held  in  Dublin  and  organised 
together  with  the  Irish  Presidency.  Contributions 
and  reactions  to the Green  Paper  will be invited 
from  the widest  possible  audience  until  the end 
of  1996. 

335 

Green  Paper  on  the 
protection  of Minors  and 
Human  Dignity  in 
Audiovisual  and 
Information  Services 

Commission  adoption 

ICA10-96 

COM  (96)483 

The  Green  Paper  will  initiate  a medium  to long 
term  reflection  on  the  issue of the protection  ol~ 
minors  and  human  dignity  in audiovisual  and 
information  services. 

P.t^e  21 
1'iinl  il.tie:  I  1/26  '>(>.  3  \.} 
umncsX  ] .(loo 

I ' M. 

Europe's Rolling Action Plan for Information Society 

Specific  Measures 

Decision Making 
Process 

Calender 

Explanation* - Implications 

336 

White Paper  on  "Teaching 
and  learning  - Towards  the 
learning  society" 

Commission 
adoption 
COM(95)  590 

29-11-95 

This  White Paper  is part  of a process designed 
simultaneously  to provide an analysis and  to put 
forward  guidelines  for  action  in the fields of 
education  and  training.  After  describing  what  is 
at stake and  analysing  the changes which  need 
to be considered,  while respecting  the  principle 
of subsidiarity,  the  White Paper  suggests five 
general  objectives  for action  setting  out for  each 
of them  one or  more support  projects at 
Community  level. 

CA  MEETING THE GLOBAL  CHALLENGE 

337 

International  Conference 
at  G7 ministerial  level on 
information  society 
(Brussels) 

2-95 

338 

International  Conference 
on  information  society  and 
development  (ISAD)  in 
South  Africa 

13/15-5-96 

• 

A meeting  of relevant  G7  ministers  took  place 
in Brussels on Feb 25-26  1995. The  meeting 
emphasised  the  necessity  to encourage the 
development of a world-wide  information 
society.  Eleven  pilot  projects  were identified  for 
international  cooperation.  The'implemcntation 
of the G7 conclusions across the different  EC 
policies  related  to Information  Society  is under 
way. A progress  report  on the pilot  project  was 
presented  at the Halifax  G7  meeting  in June 

South  African  Vice President  Mbcki.  proposed 
at the occasion  of the G7  Conference  in 
Brussels an  Information  Society  Conference 
with  the developing countries  hosted by South 
Africa.  The conference  took  place  in May with 
the participation  of many  developing  countries. 
Contacts  have been  established  with  the 
Egyptian  government  for  the preparation  of a 
follow-up  meeting. 

I'.i^e  2 S 
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IIUIDCNK  I  d oc 

31 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 607  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

16  15 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-96-636-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-12954-2 

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