EU Council (TTE) more open and transparent (Will it last?)

The advance information was lousy, but I was happy to notice that the Council of the European Union desisted from treating every bit of information about progress on the Europe 2020 growth strategy as a state secret when it communicated after the meeting.

Look at page 7 of the conclusions of the TTE Council, with regard to the draft regulation regarding energy market integrity and transparency:

3072nd Council meeting Transport, Telecommunications and Energy: ENERGY; Brussels, 28 February 2011 (Council document 6950/11; 18 pages)

We have not only references, but links to the relevant documents including a progress report, and an identified as well as retrievable latest version of the regulation text.

Handy links were used more generously than usually in other agenda items as well.

If this marks a new beginning, the European Union has taken a step closer to the openness (transparency) it has promised its citizens.

Hopefully it was more than a flash in the pan.



Ralf Grahn


 

P.S. In 'Le Dérèglement du monde' the writer Amin Maalouf speaks wisely about the challenges facing mankind, including us Europeans. One of the books every one of us should read.

(FI: already published: 'Maailma järkkyy'; EN: 'Disordered World'; USA publication promised 27 September 2011, UK publishing date 19 September 2011.)


P.S. 2: At a glance the ten latest entries on my three unilingual and one trilingual blog (EN, FI, SV):

Grahnlaw: EU General Affairs Council (GAC) communication: Wrong, stupid and a missed opportunity

Grahnlaw Suomi Finland: EU cohesion policy conclusions reveal lack of transparency

Eurooppaoikeus: Mitä EU:n alue- ja rakennepolitiikasta puuttuu Suomessa?

Grahnlaw Suomi Finland: Yhteisvastuu Euroopan unionissa: Kysyntää riittää

Grahnlaw: From Libya to Brazil, interior goes international (EU Justice and Home Affairs Council)

Grahnlaw Suomi Finland: EU: Jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I revision)

Grahnblawg: EU: Information och energi inför TTE-rådet

Grahnlaw Suomi Finland: Energin inför EU:s vårtoppmöte om ekonomi och näringsliv

Eurooppaoikeus: EU:n energian tukkumarkkinoiden säätely: Paremmin ja avoimemmin

Grahnlaw Suomi Finland: EU2020-strategia: Energia 2020


Are you interested in European values or the economy, entrepreneuship, politics or law in the EU?In that case we could get acquainted through Twitter @RalfGrahn or Facebook.

EU Council on Digital Agenda for Europe

Brussels correspondents must often feel like being stationed on the Atlantic Ocean to report about the movements of the Gulf Stream: important, but lacking drama.



The news roundup 1 June 2010 on the TTE Council conclusions about the Digital Agenda for Europe left me with the feeling that it is hard for journalists to find much to tell the public about the imperceptible moves towards action, even in areas crucial for our future prosperity.

The surprisingly many brave souls who zoom in on this blog are probably a more hardy lot than the readers of main stream media, including the online resources focused on the EU, willing to endure large doses of institutional Brussels speak and exact references to documents.



The press release from the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council meeting 31 May 2010 (document 10418/10; page 7) refers and links to the proposed Digital Agenda for Europe (document 9981/10) and the separate conclusions (document 10130/10).



After presenting the background, the Council pronouncements begin in the Annex (from page 3). In the original document you find references, which I leave out. As a tribute to the resilience of my readers, here are the TTE Council conclusions:

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,


1. TAKES NOTE OF

• The adoption of the Commission Communication on 19 May 2010 proposing a "Digital Agenda for Europe", the first of the seven flagships of the "Europe 2020 Strategy" which contains the actions it proposes to take at EU and national level to tackle bottlenecks and deliver on the Europe 2020 priorities, that is developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation, promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy and fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion;

• The European Parliament's resolution of 5 May 2010 on "a new Digital Agenda for Europe: 2015.eu".


2. RECALLS


• The Commission Communication of 3 March 2010 on "Europe 2020 - A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth";

• The European Council Conclusions of 25-26 March 2010;

• The Granada Ministerial Declaration of 19 April 2010 on the "European Digital Agenda";

• The Council conclusions of 18 December 2009 on "Post-i2010 Strategy - towards an open, green and competitive knowledge society".


3. ACKNOWLEDGES


• The importance of the Digital Agenda for Europe:

− that wider deployment and more effective use of digital technologies can provide Europeans with a better quality of life through, for example, better health care, safer transport, new media opportunities and easier access to goods and services, including public services, and cultural content, in particular across borders;

− that Europe should put the necessary resources in the development of a digital single market based on fast and ultra fast internet and interoperable applications in order to use its full potential to raise productivity and generate economic growth and attract investments, create jobs and reinforce its influence at a global level;

• That this Agenda will require a sustained level of commitment at both EU and Member State levels;

• That Europe should encourage the digital economy in order to use its enabling and cross-sectoral capability to increase productivity and competitiveness of other sectors and to take advantage of ICT to better meet the global challenges, such as the transformation to a low carbon and resource-efficient economy and the creation of more and better jobs;

• That differences exist between Member States in the development of the information society, in particular with regard to broadband networks, as indicated in "Europe's Digital Competitiveness Report 2010";

• That efficient and competitive investment in next generation broadband networks will be important for innovation, consumer choice and for the competitiveness of the European Union;

• That the Digital Agenda for Europe plays a key role within the "Europe 2020 Strategy" and should be consistent with the other components of this strategy and with the other forthcoming flagship initiatives, inter alia 'Innovation Union' and 'An Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era';

• That the Digital Agenda for Europe should boost the competitiveness of the European ICT sector at the worldwide level, thereby creating growth and jobs in the EU.


4. ENDORSES


• The establishment of an ambitious action agenda based upon concrete proposals notably to:

− create a fully functioning digital Single Market to the benefit of European businesses, in particular SMEs, and European consumers;

− strengthen Europe's competitive position in this important sector through reinforcing efforts on ICT Research and Development and Innovation and boosting the knowledge triangle;

− take coordinated measures on network and information security in order to increase trust and confidence in cyberspace;

− deploy effective measures to promote pro-competitive investments in broadband for all and the wide availability and take-up of faster internet;

− promote the take-up and use of the internet in order to ensure inclusion in the digital society, namely through the extensive use of equipment and digital content and tools in education and learning, by enhancing digital literacy and skills and by improving accessibility for all, especially for persons with disabilities;

− deploy ICT in order to address key societal challenges such as climate change, ageing and health care and fully exploit the potential of eGovernment, with due consideration to Member States' competences;

− enhance interoperability of IT solutions in Europe and promote a better use of standards;

− strengthen the European technological capacity in ICT, expanding the opportunities for SMEs to fully participate in the global market;

− establish a strong external dimension to the European Digital Agenda;

− encourage legal access to on-line content and facilitate electronic commerce for businesses and consumers;

− take measures to promote supply of quality on-line content to all consumers in the European Union;

− evaluate the Digital Agenda for Europe by the European Commission on a regular basis and to report to the Council and the European Parliament;

• The focusing of the Digital Agenda for Europe in its key actions in order to ensure that the economic, social and cultural potential of ICT is exploited to the maximum;

• The approach taken by the Commission to implement the "Digital Agenda for Europe" on the basis of a wide stakeholder involvement.


5. DRAWS THE ATTENTION OF THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT


• To the significance of the Digital Agenda for Europe for the economic and social development in the EU for their discussion at the European Council in June 2010, which should finally launch the Europe 2020 Strategy, a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.


6. INVITES THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES


• To seek ways to enhance horizontal coordination between concerned institutions both at the EU and national level in order to improve the implementation of the Digital Agenda for Europe.

Comment

If a fully functioning digital single market means what it implies ─ one regulatory and supervisory regime and market for telecoms, content, e-commerce and copyright ─ the European Union could really make a difference in the life of businesses, consumers and citizens.

Let us hope that, for once, the EU Council is going to over-achieve.

In general, the conclusions of the TTE Council were positive, and they did not endorse censorship measures or limitations of users’ freedoms. However, this does not mean that the dangers have disappeared; they are just brewing somewhere else.

Returning to the beginning of this blog post, with regard to media attention. As a journalist, how would you have presented the story?




Ralf Grahn

Digital Agenda for Europe: News roundup

Yesterday we linked to the EU Council conclusions on the Digital Agenda:



Council conclusions on Digital Agenda for Europe, by the 3017th Council meeting (Transport, Telecommunications and Energy = TTE) Brussels, 31 May 2010.





In a separate press release the TTE Council confirmed that the seat of BEREC (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) will be placed in Riga, the capital of Latvia.


Digital Agenda in the news



If you look at some of the available reports, you are in for a surprise. The Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union (and EU business) claims that the Digital Agenda project was launched 19 April [2010] in Granada, so for instance this blog must have missed the point completely with a number of posts last year and this year about the programme to succeed the EU’s i2010 policy framework for the information society. These are the risks, if you try to deal with matters at European level, instead of focusing on the essentials of national glory.




EurActiv: EU plays catch-up with US digital economy (1 June 2010)



Europolitics, Nathalie Vandystadt: Ministers back EU’s digital strategy (31 May 2010)



The Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union: Telecommunications Ministers back the new European Digital Agenda (31 May 2010)



EUbusiness: EU aims to bridge the digital divide (1 June 2010)



European Voice, Simon Taylor: Telecoms regulator to be based in Latvia (31 May 2010)




Ralf Grahn

Digital Agenda for Europe overshadowed by Israel

I meant to write about the TTE Council’s conclusions on the Digital Agenda for Europe, but after the bloodbath by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on board the flotilla heading towards Gaza, I don’t feel up to it right now.

According to news outlets, the EU high representative Ashton has demanded an investigation and the EU ambassadors are meeting in Brussels today. Turkey has withdrawn its ambassador from Israel.

As often, reports from different sources have been contradictory, so it is important to establish the facts of what happened during the boarding of civilian (merchant) vessels on international waters, as well as the justifications for a blockade of 1.5 million inhabitants in Gaza.



If you feel up to it…


Here is a link to the document on the Digital Agenda:



Council conclusions on Digital Agenda for Europe, by the 3017th Council meeting (Transport, Telecommunications and Energy = TTE) Brussels, 31 May 2010.




Ralf Grahn

EU telecom markets: “Is there progress?”

In How silly can it get? Consumers facing telecoms markets in EU (28 May 2010) we looked at one concrete example: the trouble and cost for Henrik Alexandersson, an expat worker in the European Parliament.



The personal summary of top euroblogger Julien Frisch (28 May 2010) on the EU’s 15th progress report on the single European electronic communications market was simple and effective:

My own progress report on European electronic communication: Is there progress?

I still have to find a national operator when I move to another EU country instead of having one European mobile phone operator with the same prices and services wherever I am.

Free movement


Mobility and the internal market are the main benefits of the European Union for people and businesses, we are told.

Few first lectures about the EU fail to mention:

… an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured ...

Fact or fiction?



15th progress report

Yes, we have advanced to the 15th progress report on EU telecom markets, but ─ as Julien said ─ where is the progress?



This leads to a number of questions, worth discussion, in these times when ever fewer people leave home without a 3G mobile phone and a notebook, enabling and requiring data services.

Where are the voices of business travelers, mobile workers and students, as well as tourists? Say something, do something!

Why are the national politicians and regulators allowed to drag their feet? Are businesses and consumers sheep?

Have people found alternative ways to cope with the difficulties caused by the fragmented electronic communications markets? Do you buy 27 pre-paid cards for your grand tour of the European Union? Do you find free wireless networks (wi-fi; WLAN) wherever you go?

Hoping to hear from you.



Telecommunications Council



By the way, the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council meets on Monday, 31 May 2010.

Information society commissioner Neelie Kroes will present the Digital Agenda for Europe, and the Council will adopt conclusions.



According to the background note, the TTE Council endorses an ambitious agenda. (Is anyone dedicated enough to check which words they used the fourteen previous times they studied the progress report?)

There will be an exchange of views on the "European Code of rights of users of electronic communications services", a pet project of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union.



The laudable aim of the policy debate is to contribute to simple and easily accessible information for EU citizens on their rights established in the Regulatory framework for electronic communications and services and other relevant EU legislation.



There are no links or document references in the TTE Council background note to the draft conclusions on the Digital Agenda or the proposed users’ code.

However, we can rest assured that nothing is more important for the 27 governments representing 27 different markets than ambitious action and simple and accessible information for EU citizens ─ every year.




Ralf Grahn

European Digital Agenda in 2010 on first day of Spanish EU Council presidency

What does the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union hold in store for the European Digital Agenda in 2010?

At the same time, searching for statements regarding specific policies offers a test of the functionality of the Spanish presidency web pages on the first day of the new year (and possibly hints for improvements).



Swedish presidency: post i2010 strategy



The Swedish EU Council presidency handed over the baton in the form of conclusions on the post i2010 strategy by the meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council configuration on 17 to 18 December 2009 (document 17456/09; page 21).



The TTE Council’s conclusions were presented in more detail in the document "Post-i2010 Strategy" - towards an open, green and competitive knowledge society - Adoption of Council conclusions (17107/09; 16 pages), which we summarized in the blog post EU Telecommunications Council on post i2010 strategy: Towards a new digital agenda (25 December 2009).



Spanish presidency: Telecommunications priorities


First we turn to what the Spanish presidency page describes as the political programme, the eight page summary headlined The Spanish Presidency 2010 (pdf document). (By calling it a summary, the Spanish government causes the question where the full programme is, when no such programme seems to be on offer.)

One of the four priorities is to guarantee the economic recovery, and in this context it mentions the adoption of the European strategy for sustainable growth for 2020.

Europe’s response to globalisation should be to improve its capacity to innovate:

Therefore, Spain's Presidency will promote the adoption of an ambitious European Innovation Plan that will cover the different aspects of innovation -regulatory, financial, educational and, of course, the reinforcement of specific policies to support R&D.

Under Transport, Telecommunications and Energy policies, the Spanish Council presidency offers the following description of the road ahead:

- Telecommunications
The Council is working on the four objectives considered to be a priority in this area in the European Union: the establishment of a Europe-wide integrated network, the introduction of information society, the opening up of national markets and the removal of regulatory disparities between Member States with regard to prices, standards, market-access conditions, public procurement, etc.

The web page offers helpful links to external resources, among them Summaries of EU legislation with regard to the Information society. (The undated page seems to be in need of an update by the Commission. A slight imperfection is that the English presidency page links to the Spanish summary, although it is easy enough for users to choose the desired language.)



18 month presidency trio

We failed to find the full presidency work programme (see above). What we found this far was rather vague.

Thus, we look for more detail in the programme of the presidency trio from January 2010 to June 2011: Spain, Belgium and Hungary.



Somewhat hidden under A trio of presidencies, one can actually find a link to the Work programme for the 18 month period: Draft 18 month programme of the Council (document 16771/09; 89 pages). (At this stage, it would be more elegant to present the programme as final or approved by the governments, if that is the case.)

The post i2010 strategy (the European Digital Agenda) has to be seen in the context of economic reform issues (EU 2020), the traditional “beef” of the spring European Council. Consequently it seems better to look at the trio programme in separate blog posts to avoid overburdening readers with an overly long one.




Ralf Grahn



P.S. Listen to EU affairs podcasts on Chasing Brussels and read other great euroblogs listed on multilingual Bloggingportal.eu, our common “village well” for fact, opinion and gossip on European affairs.