Commission to hold eSafety hearing

The European Commission is to hold a hearing on the eSafe programme 2003 to 2004 in Kirchberg, Luxembourg on 27 and 28 November as part of its preparations for implementation of the initiative.

The initiative is an extension of the 'safer Internet action plan 1999 to 2002'. Subject to approval by the European Parliament and the Council, the eSafe programme will provide funding for activities to deal with illegal and harmful content on the Internet as well as new online technologies. The programme is part of a strategy to develop a coherent approach to eSafety.

Proposed actions include setting up a European network of hotlines, encouraging self-regulation and codes of conduct, and benchmarking filtering software and services. The programme also proposes the introduction of a user-friendly content rating.

This invitation is particularly relevant for government ministries and agencies, bodies involved in Internet safety and media education campaigns, experts in public outreach, researchers on Internet safety, child welfare bodies, consumer and family associations, education providers, youth organisations, policy bodies dealing with freedom of speech on the Internet, self-regulatory bodies and content providers.For further information, please visit:
http://www.saferinternet.org/news/esafe_agenda.asp(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)

A consultation document is currently being finalised. It will be published before the hearing at the following web address:
http://www.saferinternet.org(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)

To see the Commission's eSafe proposal, please visit:
http://europa.eu.int/information_society/programmes/iap/programmes/followup/index_en.htm(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)