Ministers responsible for Telecommunications and Information Society in countries belonging to the European Union (EU), under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Miguel Sebastián, have adopted today the Granada Declaration for the Digital Agenda.
The Informal Meeting of the European Union’s Ministers for Telecommunications and Information Society, held between the 18th and 20th of April, 2010 in the city of Andalusia, represents the Information Society highpoint for the Spanish Presidency.
The meeting has been made possible thanks to an ISDN videoconference system, since a great number of Delegations have been unable to attend the meeting personally as a result of Europe’s air traffic problems caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Since economic recovery is one of the European Union’s main challenges as well as other world regions’ increasing competitiveness, it must deeply consider ICT as a crucial factor for economic growth, employment, sustainability and social integration.
The Declaration, promoted by the European Commission during the Spanish Presidency’s semester, will be one of the milestones of the new Digital Strategy and will contribute to the consolidation of Europe’s technological leadership within this strategic sector, whose effects must reach citizens, businesses and Civil Services.
The Granada Ministerial Declaration includes the core necessary elements to obtain a veritable innovating, sustainable and inclusive digital society and economy.
The Declaration acknowledges that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are a key and strategic factor for growth during the current period of economic recovery and in the long-term. All Member States agree that the European Union requires a new digital strategy based on the latest technologies and the implementation of the Society of Information and Knowledge.
The Granada Declaration considers that this strategy should be based on the following central themes:
Infrastructures
The EU must rely on solid infrastructures, providing higher speed and greater efficiency, particularly with regards to broadband and networks of the future.
Specific measures must be adopted in order to overcome the digital divide by meeting the target of 100% coverage of basic broadband to all citizens by 2013 and promote wide take-up of high speed broadband by 2020.
Roll out of competitive next generation high speed networks must be boosted through promotion of competition between broadband providers and by implementing a predictable regulatory regime for the promotion of efficient investment in high speed infrastructures and related services.
Advanced use of the open internet, security and trust
Europe requires a safer internet, in which citizens must be able to make use of all its advantages by means of adequate digital literacy, particularly for the underprivileged or reluctant sectors. The public sector faces a crucial task in the development of fundamental public services such as e-Government or e-Health.
User rights
The Declaration promotes the preparation and dissemination of an easily understandable “Code of Digital Rights of e-Communications and online services” which strengthens legal security and transparency whilst systematising rights for users and businesses within a digital environment.
Data protection and privacy for users of social networking services must also be strengthened and in key fields such as online health and e-government services.
Digital Single Market
A genuine Digital Single Market, as a fundamental support for Europe’s economy of knowledge, must be achieved by eliminating regulatory obstacles, notably regarding cross-border access and transactions.
With regard to intellectual property rights, the development of a pan-European digital market must be actively promoted, through practical solutions to promote new business models whilst equally assuring the fair remuneration of rights holders.
Public Digital Services
Member countries agree that there is a need for the development of new and improved digital public services, to reactivate demand and emphasize the advantages of digital economy and transparent government. Such public services must promote the reuse of information in the public sector, increase the efficiency of government and lead to a measurable reduction in administrative burdens on citizens and businesses as well as contributing to a low-carbon economy.
Within this scope, the implementation of e-Government strategies is required at an organisational, legal and technical level, including e-ID and e-signatures.
Strengthening the Competitiveness of Europe’s ICT sector
Strengthening ICT sector competitiveness by targeting on research, development and innovation with programmes which are better adapted to the special characteristics of ICT firms, particularly SMEs.
The Declaration also advocates that ICT innovation must be supported by R&D in areas where Europe has leading market potential, such as health, green mobility and energy efficiency, or which are strategic such as Future Internet or cloud computing.
International dimension of the Digital Agenda
Member States seek to strengthen the international dimension of the EU ICT sector, particularly in the field of internet governance or in the development of international norms.
Benchmarking Information SocietyLastly, the Declaration highlights the need to develop new reliable indicators on Information Society adaptable to the evolution of technology and be further aligned with similar benchmarking to that of international bodies such as the OECD or ITU.