Press release
19 May 2010
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications
European Commission goes with Swedish proposal on a Digital Agenda for Europe
Today the European Commission adopted a Digital Agenda for Europe, a five-year programme the aims of which include increasing access to ICT services in society and enhancing trust and security for those using these services. Sweden has been a driving force in developing the proposal.
"I am pleased that people have listened to what we - ICT users, enterprises and politicians - discussed in the context of our Presidency conference in Visby in November last year. In the Visby Declaration, we underlined the importance of a horizontal approach to IT policy, the need for increased access, security for users and ICT as an important part of creating sustainable and green growth," says Minister for Communications Åsa Torstensson.
Ambitious targets
The Commission's proposal contains measures to support continued digitisation in many areas of society and provide conditions that enable more EU citizens to access high-capacity broadband.
The targets that have been set include that the entire population of the European Union will have access to broadband of 30 Mbps or above by 2020 and that half of the population will then subscribe to a broadband connection of 100 Mbps or higher.
"These are very ambitious targets," says Ms Torstensson, "and I am pleased that the Commission has broadened the ambition from just applying to access to infrastructure so that it now also includes people's use of the infrastructure. This takes the policy into a new era."
Increased climate awareness
The proposal also specifies targets for public use of the Internet, use of eCommerce and public eServices.
At their meeting on 31 May, the ministers of the Member States will discuss the Commission's proposal. The intention is to take a decision on the final formulation of the proposal during the Belgian Presidency this autumn.
"The measures indicated by the Commission will enable us to provide a real boost to the EU economy as well as giving us a more climate-aware and modern IT policy," concludes Ms Torstensson.
Contact
Kenneth HultgrenPress Secretary to Åsa Torstensson
Lena Carlsson
Special Adviser
+46 8 405 82 18
