New '.eu' registration name is approved
The adoption by the Telecommunications council of a regulation to implement the .eu Internet domain name will create a truly European identity in cyberspace, according to EU Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen. The new domain name means that Europeans will be able to be identified in web addresses and e-mails as Europeans, rather than having to rely on national or generic suffixes. The adoption represents the final step in bringing to fruition a commitment made in Lisbon to create a .eu domain name, and is one of the main objectives of the eEurope 2002 action plan. 'It will be an important enabler for European electronic commerce, allowing a new breed of .eu e-commerce websites to do business across Europe. It is also expected that it will lead to a higher visibility of the European 'brand' in the virtual marketplace based on the Internet,' said Mr Liikanen. The next step in the procedure is for the Commission to select a non-profit organisation to manage the .eu domain as well as definition of the rules to safeguard certain public policy issue. Safeguards against cybersquatting are contained within the regulation, as well as means for settling disputes in an extra-judicial way. Calls for expression of interest will be made in the Official Journal for any remaining tasks.