March 2013
1 post
3 tags
December 2012
1 post
Update on my computer
Re: computer situation during IGF12
“We now have a substantial update from our IT security services on my personal computer. Conflicting certificates and suspicious messages were received on the computer, and it is not possible to exclude that passwords were compromised. On the other hand, there is no data loss or malware left on my computer. We are relieved by this news and consider the...
October 2012
1 post
5 tags
Extra public funding needed to connect all...
Neelie Kroes is making a forceful case to CEOs and MEPs for connecting an extra 45 million households to fast internet via the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): “It’s time to give our economy an upgrade … ICT investment is the most productive investment” for advanced economies like Europe.
Kroes says that the Digital Single Market cannot be...
September 2012
3 posts
4 tags
Winners of EU Contest for Young Scientists
Europe’s best young scientific minds met in Bratislava today for the 24th annual Awards Ceremony for the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS). The top three prizes went to teams from Ireland, Poland and Austria for projects in Physics, Chemistry and Engineering. Runners up were also recognised for their projects in areas as diverse as Physics, Computer science, Mathematics, Social...
2 tags
Commentaire de la Commission sur la réunion...
La Vice Présidente a eu une réunion très fructueuse avec la Ministre. Elles ont toute deux échangé des points de vue sur la conjoncture actuelle, à la fois en matière économique et réglementaire. Elles se sont accordées que l’agenda numérique est une priorité commune et un vecteur de croissance essentiel pour la France et l’Europe. Le secteur des telecoms est dans une situation...
Enjoy a radio play of a nearly forgotten story...
June 2012
1 post
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Time for the savings to start and the whingeing to...
From 1 July there are price caps for mobile internet roaming inside EU. You will get maps, email, photos and social networks at less than half the roaming price you are paying today. Prices for voice calls and SMS also fall – to lower than typical domestic rates in some Member States.
That’s saving of €200 euros for a family on a holiday abroad, and around €1000 euros for a regular business...
April 2012
1 post
1 tag
New EU roaming price caps: what changed
Just before Easter the EU institutions agreed a new roaming regulation system. A long term solution after 2015 which will mean you can choose your roaming provider like you choose a wifi network, and up until then the certainty of ever decreasing prices.
Neelie’s Kroes’ video message is here, subtitled in 22 languages: http://youtu.be/FgIjYkceW5w
March 2012
7 posts
1 tag
EU and e-Signatures
#esignature
To my surprise I’ve been getting a few requests for info about the EU’s e-Signature plans. Here’s the lastest basic info.
The Commission plans to adopt a proposal before July 2012 for a pan European Framework for electronic identification, authentication and signature. It will include the revision of Directive 1999/93/EC.
You will find information on the...
3 tags
The Digital World Is For Everyone
Full list of signatories at: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/ict-and-women.html
More info on Neelie Kroes and International Women’s Day here:
http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/iwd2012/
“The empowerment of women and the recent rise of digital technology have changed our world for the better.
Now it is time to bring these two revolutions together. You...
Latest on media situation in Hungary
#KlubRadio #Hungary @NeelieKroesEU
A Hungarian court has ruled that KlubRadio can continue broadcasting (subject to appeal). Also, Neelie Kroes has explained to Hungarian MEPs why her actions are needed and within her mandate. See latest open letter here:
http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/files/Neelie-Kroes-to-Jozsef-Szajer-EN.pdf
EU Heads of State/Govt agree to cut costs of...
Investing in new and better broadband is expensive. The EU voted on Friday to make it cheaper. Full text of the agreement is here: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/128520.pdf
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Even mobile industry agrees with us that roaming...
#roaming #mwc12 This story from Agence France Press, about tells it all about roaming. Even the mobile industry hates and fears roaming charges, if the people at the world’s largest mobile event - Mobile World Congress - are anything to go by. Key quotes:
“We probably have two-thirds of the people here who have turned off their data, because they’re scared to death of the...
3 tags
Barroso's broadband call to EU Council
#broadband #DAE #DSM12
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was banging the broadband drum yesterday and today ahead of the Summit of European heads of state and government.
“We need to cut the cost of broadband roll-out. A study we released yesterday shows that €110 billion a year could be generated – more than 0.8% of GDP if the internal market for electronic communications...
7 tags
Kroes & ETNO's shared vision on ICT research
#research #H2020
European Commission Vice President Kroes and Luigi Gambardella, Executive Board Chairman of European Telecoms Network Operators (ETNO) have issued a statement on their shared commitment to EU ICT research, following a meeting in Brussels today
“Information and Communication Technology is responsible for half of Europe’s productivity growth and a quarter of our GDP...
February 2012
5 posts
Kroes hits back at Vodafone CEO on roaming
Neelie Kroes was surprised to read the comments at 2012 Mobile World Congress of Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao - and she has this to say in response:
“Message to Vittorio and Vodafone: I call your bluff, and indeed do not respond well to threats. I take the side of the Vodafone customer. And I remind everyone that we want to get the mobile sector more spectrum and a bigger market. A fair...
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Am fascinated by reactions to ACTA ECJ referral
It’s been fascinating to read the very divergent coverage of the Commission’s decision to refer ACTA text to the European Court of Justice. This seems the wisest course of action given the concerns raised about people’s freedoms.
The Commission decision to do this was both consensual and discussed in advance. Anyone suggesting otherwise is either not in possession of the facts...
3 tags
Good to see White House joining our DNT efforts
Neelie has just blogged about her reaction to the White House’s support for a Do Not Track standard for web privacy.
This standard has been a long-held goal of Kroes and the Commission, backed through workshops and discussions for more than a year. Good to see this movement from the States.
Blog is here
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Latest Broadband figures from Dec 2011
A frequent question I get is “what are the latest EU broadband statistics?”.
We tend to get updates twice a year, and in order make sure the statistics are solid, and not just PR puff, it takes about six months for full verification, which is why we don’t have minute by minute statistics on this sort of thing.
All the latest figures are here:...
