The awards to the creators of the best online content, intelligent games, interactive online magazines or websites aimed at under 12 year olds, were given by Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda. In total, the Commission, together with Safer Internet Centres from 14 countries, received 780 projects in response to the "Best children's online content" competition, designed to encourage the creation of quality content and to highlight the existing potential for kids online.

This first competition of the "Best children's online content" competition was opened to young people and adults, NGOs, public and commercial organisations. Three winners in each of the two categories (young people and adults) received the awards. Winners came from Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and Poland. The awards were presented in Brussels during a ceremony at the Digital Agenda Assembly.

The first prize in the "youth" category were to www.palkan.de, a pupils' magazine online portal, created by pupils of the 5th and 6th grade of the Bruno-H.-Bürgel-Schule secondary school in Germany and which focuses on learning, communication among peers and information about current events. The 2nd prize was for a site from The Netherlands, which is dedicated to the virtual world Habbo Hotel. Habbolive gives the Habbo-fan all the latest information about what is going on in Habbo and offers games for children. Finally, the 3rd prize was for a site from Poland, a site that addresses issues of general safety and online safety and provides general educational aids and resources.

With regard to the winner in the "adult" category, the first prize were to a fun and educational site with many possibilities to create content, for example via the SketchMaker and GameMaker. It was created by Hetklokhuis, the Dutch educational television program for children. This site were created in The Netherlands. The 2nd prize was for a website on the history of humankind, created by a private initiative from Germany and the 3rd prize was for a website which aims to enable children to be creative, for example to draw or make quizzes. It was created by the Flemish children’s TV-channel Ketnet.

The Commission will launch a new initiative to help make the Internet a safer place later this year, while empowering youngsters to learn their rights and responsibilities online and make the most of new technologies whilst respecting themselves and others. The Commission will also continue to stimulate growth and visibility of good quality content online for children, promoting language and cultural diversity and helping parents and teachers to gain confidence in the benefits of new technologies for children.

According to a recent EUKidsOnline survey, children go online younger and younger every year, only one in three 9-12 year olds feels that there are enough good things for them online. The Commission is committed to helping parents and their children keep safe online as part of the Digital Agenda for Europe.