transport, energy, infrastructures, information society TEN section September 2011

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1 September 2011 transport, energy, infrastructures, information society TEN section

2 The TEN section s work relating to the Information Society focuses on the implications of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for society at large and on their potential to harness the digital economy to stimulate growth and increase Europeans living standards. Based on in-depth analyses, carried out as part of the EESC opinion-making and consensus-building process, the Section is helping to make Europe s information society strategies more consistent with the expectations of European civil society organisations. In recent years, TEN has delivered more than 30 opinions on issues ranging from the Telecoms Reform Package, the Roaming Regulation and the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP) and the Internet of Things, the Digital Dividend and Creative Content Online. A 15-member Permanent Study Group on the Digital Agenda operates within the TEN Section, which has also organised various events on related topics and maintains i excellent working relationships with relevant Commission services, the respective secretariats in the European Parliament and a wide range of stakeholders in this field. More information is available at:

3 TEN fully supports the Digital Agenda for Europe, and recommendations (see opinion TEN/426, rapporteur Mr Thomas McDonogh, Group I, Employers, Ireland). In this three key areas where critical issues still need to be addressed: access for everybody to the minimum required infrastructure; skills, notably for those who need it most, such as elderly, disabled or less affluent people; and protection of basic fundamental rights like privacy, personal security and dignity, free expression and circulation of ideas, fighting cybercrime and increased security with a view to increasing trust in the network.

4 therefore, TEN has stressed the need to: regulatory framework for electronic communications in Europe, through greater participation in the consultation and adoption processes; investment-friendly ndly regulatory environment,, to be rigorously fighting internet piracy,, which should comply with the proportionality principle, and striking a balance between rights and freedoms and the interests at stake (see opinion TEN/344, rapporteur Mr Daniel Retureau, Group II, Employees, France); infrastructure deployment for an universal access to broadband (see opinion TEN/353, rapporteur Mr Raymond Hencks, Group II, Employees, Luxembourg); skills suitable to the needs of an ageing society and people with disabilities N.B.: the EESC was the first European body to bring its website in line with the W3C international accessibility rules and the Web Accessibility Initiative; >>

5 >> ICT innovation and for awareness-raising campaigns addressed to citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); ICT products and services which are based on open standards; of useful online content and services, while safer internet people of limited capacity in using ICT and the new media. In the words of Mr Jorge Pegado Liz (EESC member, Group III, Various Interests, Portugal), rapporteur of the opinion TEN/390 on Social Networking Sites, striking a balance between fundamental rights, such as the freedom of expression and good communication on the one hand and the protection of personal dignity and privacy at the other, is in essence at the core of this debate. Our major concern is what should be done to achieve this balance under the existing legal constraints, at international level.

6 European Union, 2011 / Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. contact: ten@eesc.europa.eu Visits and Publications Unit Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99 BELGIQUE/BELGIË EESC EN QE EN-C In 2009, the EESC was awarded the prestigious «Ecodynamic Enterprise» label by the Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment (IBGE), obtaining 3 stars, the highest level possible. This label rewards organisations for good environmental performance. doi: /74771