TEN-Telecom launches Action Plan for 1998-2000
A three-year action plan for the new TEN-Telecom programme, initially launched in June 1997, was published by the European Commission (DG XIII) on 7 January 1998. The objectives of the TEN-Telecom programme are: - To facilitate the transition towards the Information Society; - To improve the competitiveness of European enterprises and to strengthen the internal market; - To strengthen economic and social cohesion; - To stimulate new activities leading to job creation. The main actions foreseen in the first three months of 1998 include the launch of three calls for proposals. A first call, covering the "Development and interoperability of networks", will be published on 15 January 1998 (closing date 15 April 1998). This will be followed by an Information Day, to be held in Brussels, Belgium, on 30 January 1998. Two further calls, covering "Generic services and applications" and "Support actions", will be launched on 15 March 1998. TEN-Telecom's budget for 1998, its first full year of operation under the new Guidelines and Work Programme, is set at ECU 30 million.