ICT Skills are girls' best friend!

..said Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President responsible for the Digital Agenda Europe, during the Parliamentary Hearing "Girls in ICT Day 2013" on 25 April 2013, co-organised by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the International Telecoms Union. The event aims to empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the sector of technology. 

As part of the event, the European Parliament organised a hearing on "Women in ICT" around the topics of professional women in ICT careers and developing ICT skills for ICT jobs.

Neelie Kroes opened the Parliamentary hearing by stating that "Digital women are worth more than diamonds". "Getting more women in ICT will enhance equality and competitiveness in an increasingly digital world".

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of facebook, joined via tele-conference the Hearing and offered to the audience practical advice on how to unleash their full potential and achieve their goals.

Participants exchanged ideas on how to encourage young women take up leading role in both personal and professional level and make the most of every opportunity. Pursuing an ICT-related career was highlighted throughout the Hearing as a first-class opportunity to enhance women's leverage in the digital world.

More information about Girls in ICT Day.

The Code of EU Online Rights is available in 22 languages

As part of the Digital Agenda for Europe actions, the Code of EU online rights compiles the basic set of rights existing in EU legislation and related to the digital environment. The objective of the Code is to find simple explanations of their legal rights and obligations, set out in a transparent and understandable way.

The Code intends to raise awareness and understanding about key digital rights of EU citizens. As foreseen in the Digital Agenda for Europe, this list of online rights and principles will be an important tool for inspiring trust and confidence among consumers and contribute to promote greater use of online services.

PDF versions of the full Code of EU Online Rights in 22 languages.

Future European Commission Policy Directions

The European Commission has just published a number of 2012 Roadmaps that are determining future policy directions.

- Pan European framework for electronic identification, authentication and signature. Go to .pdf document.

- Digital Agenda for Europe – Next steps. Go to .pdf document.

- Rethinking skills in the context of Europe 2020. Go to .pdf document.

http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs/2012_eac+_014_rethinking_skills_en.pdf

- Internationalisation of Higher Education. Go to .pdf document.

- Communication on the developments in the area of access to scientific information. Go to .pdf document.

Communication on enhancing and focussing international cooperation in Research and Innovation. 

To consult all the published roadmaps you can visit the following website : 

http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/roadmaps_2012_en.htm

Public consultations on access to telecoms networks

The European Commission launched the 3rd of October two public consultations related to access for alternative operators to the fixed telephone and broadband networks of established operators.

Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda said "We need regulatory consistency in all Member States to ensure a level playing field for telecoms across the whole EU, in which competition and investment can thrive. This will reassure markets that putting money into fibre networks is a safe and profitable investment."

The consultations:

-Public consultation on costing methodologies for key wholesale access prices in electronic communications

-Public consultation on the application, monitoring and enforcement of non-discrimination obligations in electronic communications

Both consultations are open until 28 November 2011.

More information

The Digital Agenda goes local again!

The "Going Local" Initiative of the Digital Agenda - the European Commission's flagship initiative for ICT - was held in Autum 2010 to target the main stakeholders in each Member State in order to raise awareness about the Digital Agenda for Europe and generate support for its actions. To follow with this initiative, a new round of the "going local" initiative will start in Autum 2010.

This time events will be more adapted to the specific priorities in the Member States.

The initiative has the following objectives:

Reporting on progress of the Digital Agenda;
Identifying challenges for the future;
Stimulate actions and commitments.

More Information

Registrations for the 1rst Digital Agenda Assembly are now open!

The first Digital Agenda Assembly will take place in Brussels on 16-17 June 2011. The event will address key topics relating to information and communications technologies and their impacts on society and economy. The annual Digital Assembly will bring together Member States, EU institutions, citizens' representatives and industry and it will support the Digital Agenda for Europe by assessing progress, identifying challenges and stimulating contributions.

The main objectives of the Assembly are to:

•Assess progress to date on delivery towards the Digital Agenda's goals and actions and seek ways to improve delivery;
•Identify challenges ahead for the implementation of the Digital Agenda and for the information society in general;
•Mobilise stakeholders' actions to make further progress and address challenges.

Registrations and more information

'sluggish' Growth in cross-border e-commerce across the European Union

The latest European Commission consumer survey reveals that E-commerce growth 'sluggish' across the European Union and indicates that much remains to be done if the bloc is to meet targets for 2020.

36% of EU consumers shopped online from national sellers in 2010 compared to 34% in 2009, found the 5th edition of the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard. However cross-border e-commerce grew only slowly, rising one percentage point to 9% last year compared to 8% in 2009.

The EU has set itself the target of raising the proportion of EU consumers who shop online across borders to 20% by 2020, as pointed in the "Digital Agenda".

More information
Download the 5th edition of the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard

ICT Policy Support Work Programme Launched

The 5th call for Proposals of the ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) is already open until the 1st June 2011 containing a Budget of 115.5 million Euro.

Particular emphasis will be put on areas of public interest given their weight in the European economy and the unique solutions that ICT can bring to the societal challenges that lie ahead such as health and ageing, inclusion, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, culture preservation and learning as well as efficient public administrations. The programme will also provide EU funding to support the realisation of the Digital agenda for Europe.

The ICT Policy Support Work Programme Information Days will take place in the following locations and dates: Paris and Prague on 4th March, Dublin on 7th March, Zagreb on 14th – 18th March, Sofia and Muelheim an der Ruhr on 15th March, Oslo on 21st March, and Madrid on 24th March.

Download the Full ICT PSP Work Programme 2011
More information

1rst Digital Agenda Assembly, 16-17 June 2011, Brussels

The first Digital Agenda Assembly will take place in Brussels on 16-17 June 2011. The event will address key topics relating to information and communications technologies and their impacts on society and economy. The annual Digital Assembly will bring together Member States, EU institutions, citizens' representatives and industry and it will support the Digital Agenda for Europe by assessing progress, identifying challenges and stimulating contributions.

Registrations will be soon open in the following link.