Commission concerned about preparations in Member States for the Millennium Bug
The European Commission has adopted a report which provides an overview of current activities in Member States aimed at addressing the Year 2000 Computing Problem, the so-called "Millennium Bug". The report will be submitted to Heads of State at the Vienna European Council later this month. The report focuses on initiatives concerned with raising awareness and stimulating action, on the preparedness of central and local administrations, and on work undertaken to secure the continuous functioning of key cross-border infrastructures - transport, energy, finance, and telecommunications. Substantial progress has been made throughout 1998, with most governments establishing organisations to provide support to the private sector and information to the public. Both the financial and telecommunication sectors are demonstrating significant progress by carrying out external testing, assisted by the efforts of important international associations. Nevertheless, the decentralisation of administrations and many national infrastructures and utilities has tended to impede the central collection of information. The absence of confirmation that matters have been investigated, rectified and tested raises serious concerns. These concerns are greatest for local administrations and the energy and transport sectors. The report aims to draw the urgent attention of the Heads of State and Government to this matter. The report indicates that those Member States that seem to be more advanced in handling the problem consider their level of progress to be less satisfactory, and have started to put in place contingency plans to handle potential disruptions to normal operations. The Commission has proposed to the Council that it establish an ad-hoc Working group to provide high level coordination.