EDITO
Monday, 09 March 2020
The European Commission’s view of the challenges that a European Information Society strategy up to 2010 needs to address are set out in a Commission communication adopted today. This communication highlights the need to step up research and investment in information and communication technologies (ICT), and to promote their take-up throughout the economy. ICT should be more closely tailored to citizens’ needs and expectations, to enable them to participate more readily in socially fulfilling and culturally creative virtual communities. The challenges include social inclusion and citizenship, content and services, public services, skills and work, ICT as a key industry sector, interoperability of ICT networks and applications, trust and dependability and ICT for business processes. This communication is the starting point of a reflection process that will lead to the adoption of a new strategy during 2005.
On 22 November 2004 Peter Mandelson took charge of External Trade Affairs for the new Barroso Commission. Prior to this appointment he has been a Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, UK, since 1992. Former positions include Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, working directly with the Prime Minister Tony Blair in his Cabinet Office, and Campaign Manager for the Labour party in 1997. Mr Mandelson studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Catherine’s College, Oxford.
Friday, 19 November 2004
The European Union (EU) has launched its € 500 million Water Facility for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries - the single biggest EU allocation ever for water and sanitation projects. The facility was approved by the EU Council in March 2004 and was endorsed by the ACP-EU Council of Ministers at their meeting in Gabarone in May. The facility will drive progress towards achievement of the water and sanitation related Millennium Development Goals as well as the targets set at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg in 2002.
Wednesday, 17 November 2004
European Court of Auditors says EU budget accounts are reliable for tenth year running but more progress needed on controls of payments. The European Court of Auditors' Annual Report for the financial year 2003 once again finds that the consolidated annual accounts and their accompanying notes faithfully reflect the revenue and expenditure of the Communities as well as their financial situation at the end of 2003. The Commission takes up the Court’s recommendation for further strengthening the recovery from Member States which fail to properly control funds paid out under the CAP and structural funds. These funds, managed by Member States, account for 80% of the EC budget.