Directorate-General for Information Society and Media (European Commission)
Encyclopedia
EU Directorate General Information Society and Media or "DG Infso" is a Directorate-General
of the European Commission
.
The current European Commissioner for Digital Agenda
is Neelie Kroes
(Netherlands
) and the Director-General
is Robert Madelin.
From January 2005, DG Information Society was expanded to include Media (formerly under DG Education and Culture). DG Infso deals with research, policy and regulation on the areas of information and communication technology and media. Its regulation has cultural, societal and economic objectives, and covers some of the largest economic sectors in Europe, as well as some of the most visible. The DG is however not responsible for some general economic and market issues central to information society
policies like intellectual property
issues.
(ICTs) for the benefit of all citizens.
The DG's role is to;
Directorate-General
A Directorate-General is a branch of an administration dedicated to a specific field of expertise.* The European Commission: Commission Directorates-General are each headed by a European Commissioner;* The European Patent Office: EPO Directorates-General;...
of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
The current European Commissioner for Digital Agenda
European Commissioner for Digital Agenda
The Commissioner for Digital Agenda is a member of the European Commission responsible for media and information issues such as telecoms and IT...
is Neelie Kroes
Neelie Kroes
Neelie Kroes is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . She served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 3 August 1971 until 28 December 1977 when she became State Secretary for Transport, Public Works and Water Management from 28 December 1977 until 11...
(Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) and the Director-General
Director-general
The term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
is Robert Madelin.
Background
DG Infso was previously known as DG XIII. Until 2004, the DG shared Commissioner with DG Enterprise.From January 2005, DG Information Society was expanded to include Media (formerly under DG Education and Culture). DG Infso deals with research, policy and regulation on the areas of information and communication technology and media. Its regulation has cultural, societal and economic objectives, and covers some of the largest economic sectors in Europe, as well as some of the most visible. The DG is however not responsible for some general economic and market issues central to information society
Information society
The aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally through using IT in a creative and productive way. An information society is a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic,...
policies like intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
issues.
Mission
The Information Society and Media Directorate General supports the development and use of Information and communication technologiesInformation and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
(ICTs) for the benefit of all citizens.
The DG's role is to;
- Support innovation and competitiveness in Europe through excellence in ICT research and development.
- Define and implement a regulatory environment that enables rapid development of services based on information, communication and audio-visual technologies, so fostering competition that supports investment, growth and jobs.
- Encourage the widespread availability and accessibility of ICT-based services, especially those that have the greatest impact on the quality of life of the citizens.
- Foster the growth of content industries drawing on Europe's cultural diversity.
- Represent the European Commission in international dialogue and negotiations in these fields, and promote international cooperation in ICT research and development.
Resources
DG Information Society and Media is one of the larger DGs in the European Commission with around 1100 employees in Brussels and Luxembourg, and around one fifth of the total EU research budget. A significant part of its activities is devoted to research in areas where it can provide stimulus and support to Member State research, including coordination, co-operation, standardisation and long-term basic research activities.Structure
Directorates:- A: Audiovisual, Media, Internet (Director: Gregory Paulger)
- B: Electronic Communications Policy (Director: Bernd Langeheine)
- C: Lisbon StrategyLisbon StrategyThe Lisbon Strategy, also known as the Lisbon Agenda or Lisbon Process, was an action and development plan devised in 2000, for the economy of the European Union between 2000 and 2010....
and Policies for the Information SocietyInformation societyThe aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally through using IT in a creative and productive way. An information society is a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic,...
(Director: Susan Binns) - D: Network and Communication Technologies (Director: João da Silva)
- E: Content (Director: Khalil Rouhana)
- F: Emerging Technologies and Infrastructures (Director: Mario Campolargo)
- G: Components and Systems (Acting Director: Thierry van der Pyl)
- H: ICT addressing Societal Challenges (Acting Director: Gérard Comyn)
- R: Resources (Acting Director: Christian Dubs)
- S: General Affairs (Director: Walter Schwarzenbrunner)
See also
- Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)
- European Institute for Health RecordsEuropean Institute for Health RecordsThe European Institute for Health Records or EuroRec Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 as part of the ProRec initiative. On 13 May 2003, the institute was established as a non-profit organization under French law. Current President of EuroRec is Prof. Georges De Moor...
(EUROREC) - European Round Table of IndustrialistsEuropean Round Table of IndustrialistsThe European Round Table of Industrialists was born out of a growing preoccupation with thestate of the European economy in the early 1980s. Frequently diagnosed as “eurosclerosis”, the...
- Media PlusMedia PlusThe MEDIA Programme is a European Union programme designed to support for the European audiovisual sector. It is currently in its fourth generation, with 1991‒1995 and 1996‒2000, 2001‒2006 being the previous three. The continuation of the programme is in discussion...
- ProRecProRecThe ProRec initiative of 1996 is a network of national non-profit organisations . The initiative was a consequence of the conclusions of the Concerted Action MEDIREC regarding the reasons why Electronic Health Record systems were not used more widely in any of the European Union...
- World Intellectual Property OrganizationWorld Intellectual Property OrganizationThe World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world"....
- World Intellectual Wealth OrganisationWorld Intellectual Wealth OrganisationA World Intellectual Wealth Organization has been proposed as an alternative to the World Intellectual Property Organization. It would be dedicated to the research and promotion of novel and imaginative ways to encourage the production and dissemination of knowledge in ways that enrich...
External links and references
Official websites:- Neelie Kroes as European Commissioner of Digital Agenda
- DG Information Society and Media Home Page
- Who's who in DG European Information Society and Media
- The i2010 Policy Strategy
- Information Society Policy Thematic Pages with list of policies and activities
- FP7 ICT portal
- MEDIA Programme Home Page
- DG Infso GSM roaming price comparison portal
- ICT Policy Support Programme