European Union News - Information Society

The Civil Liberties Committee in the European Parliament adopted a resolution which calls for annual EU monitoring of member states’ media laws in order to protect media freedom and to help prevent excessive media concentration. MEPs also called for promoting "ethical" journalism in the EU.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO) and 11 European Red Cross National Societies launched a campaign to raise awareness about silent emergencies. According to the IFRC, 91% of disasters they respond to are not reported by the media.

The Council held a policy debate on open access to scientific information of public-funded research projects. Member states agreed on the need to promote common implementation standards and criteria, including interoperable infrastructures, in order to achieve the maximum benefit from the open access in a sustainable way within a digital European Research Area.

The European Commission presented a new strategy to protect open internet and online freedom and opportunity, which articulates the EU's vision of cyber-security in terms of five priorities: Achieving cyber resilience, drastically reducing cybercrime, Developing cyber defence policy and capabilities related to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), developing the industrial and technological resources for cyber-security, and establishing a coherent international cyberspace policy for the European Union and promoting core EU values.

The European Commission presented the results of joint commitments from media, technology, telecoms and online companies to make the internet a better and safer place for kids. Among others, all devices (including smartphones, tablets, computers and games consoles) could be equipped with parental control tools and screens with simple tools for users to report harmful content and contact.

The member states' Permanent Representatives endorsed the compromise reached with the European Parliament negotiators, thus paving the way for the adoption of the draft regulation at first reading which establishes a new mandate for the European Union Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).

António Vitorino, Mediator on private copying and reprography levies, presented its recommendations to the European Commission. He proposed to foster increased reliance on licences and contractual arrangements as the best way to ensure that right holders are properly remunerated for their creative efforts and investments; and he recommends measures aimed at reconciling disparate national levy systems within the Single Market.

The European Commission launched a public consultation to identify and eliminate any gaps in the Single Market legislation for industrial products, in particular if there are any obstacles to the trade of new products and new technologies, such as key enabling technologies or 3-D printing. This public consultation is open to a wide stakeholder audience and the deadline for submissions is 17 April 2013.

The European Mobile and Mobility Industries Alliance (EMMIA), a scheme boosted by the European Commission, aims to develop more sustainable solutions in the field of mobility by enhancing transnational cooperation and access to mobile services.