UNICE President calls for Seville Council to adopt eEurope action plan
The President of the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), Baron Georges Jacobs, has called on EU Heads of State to adopt the Commission's eEurope action plan at the Seville European Council later this month. Speaking at the European Business Summit in Brussels on 7 June, Baron Jacobs also called for EU governments to focus on initiatives that will 'make a difference.' UNICE has issued a document entitled 'Make eEurope a reality' asking the European Institutions and Member States to focus eEurope actions on those objectives which will make a 'real difference' across the Union. The organisation calls for the setting of clear targets in areas such as broadband Internet take-up and the liberalisation of the telecoms sector. Speaking at a press conference at the European Business Summit on 7 June, UNICE secretary general Philippe de Buck said: 'We need cheap, fast and secure Internet access in all of Europe. We need to make broadband availability a top priority.' UNICE is also calling for action to encourage SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to participate fully in the eEurope of tomorrow. The organisation says a lack of fast Internet connection and weak security are holding small enterprises back from fully embracing the Internet.