Commission outlines pressing agenda for e-commerce
The European Commission has agreed to push through all remaining electronic commerce legislation, signalling its commitment to establishing a solid base for the Information Society in Europe. The move was outlined in Commission President Romano Prodi's e-Europe initiative launched in December 1999, and was agreed this week at an informal meeting of Commissioners whose portfolios touch upon e-commerce. It gives a clear signal to the European Parliament and Council of the Commission's priorities. Of course if these measures are to enter into law in the time frame proposed by the Commission, they will also need to be approved by Parliament and the Council. The Commission wants to pass seven remaining directives and pieces of legislation relating to electronic commerce, including directives on copyright, distance selling of financial services, electronic money, e-commerce legislation, conventions on contractual law, and an on-line disputes settlement procedure for e-commerce. Erkki Liikanen, Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, said the timetable was realistic. He wants to set up a benchmarking system by the end of the year to show Member States how they are doing in implementing policies favourable to e-commerce. 'On the Internet time runs four times as quickly so we need to have a sense of urgency and priority on this issue,' said a Commission spokesperson.