Because of Iceland volcanic ash, only four of the 27 european telecommunications ministers have been able to get to the informal meeting in Granada, where they aim to underline the role of TIC as a driving force for growth in Europe.

Due to air traffic restrictions, the only European ministers who have been able to physically attend the meeting were Jose Mariano Gago, Portuguese, Bulgarian and Greek Alexandar Tsvetkov Sifounakis Nikolaos. The responsible for new technologies from the U.S. government, Aneesh Chopra, is also in Granada. Other EU countries have sent diplomats.

The EU Informal Ministerial Meeting of Telecommunications and the Information Society, to be held in Granada on April 19th – 20th 2010, represents the main event of the Spanish Presidency in this field. The EU faces, as its immediate challenges, the economic recovery and increased competition from other regions of the world.

In this regard, and in order to reap the full benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the European Union must thoroughly undertake a reappraisal of ICTs as key enablers for economic growth, job creation, sustainability and social integration.

The Granada Ministerial Declaration aims to be a milestone in the development of the new Digital Strategy, the all-encompassing vision promoted by the European Commission during the semester of the Spanish Presidency. This Strategy will contribute to consolidate the European technological leadership in this strategic sector, whose effects must reach citizens, businesses and Public Administrations alike.