Liikanen spells out EU telecoms policy for Information age
The European Commission's telecommunications policy is designed to give not only greater choice, price and ensure social inclusion, but is a recognition that 'the telecommunications sector [is] the foundation of the emerging information society,' said Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and information society, speaking in Sarajevo, Bosnia on 16 July. Addressing a telecommunications seminar in the city, Mr Liikanen explained the rationale behind the European Commission's telecommunications policy over recent years and reinforced its commitment to working with south east Europe to help achieve the same goals there. 'The European Union is willing to cooperate with countries in south east Europe to develop the information society,' he said, emphasising that one of the objectives of the information society is to bring benefits to all. Discussing the achievements of the EU's policy so far, Mr Liikanen pointed out that tariffs have fallen for both businesses and residential users, increased choice is available since the break up of monopolies and generally quality has improved. He also pointed out the telecommunications sector, despite a slowdown, is still a key growth sector, averaging a 10 per cent growth rate in 2000. EU legislation was designed to bring these positive elements, without excluding anyone. 'A defined set of basic services were to be offered to all users, independently of their geographical location at affordable prices,' he said. qualit