What do you think of, when you think of copyright? A tool to recognise and reward artists? Or a tool to punish and withhold material?
For me the answer should clearly be the first. But all too often, in the digital age, it is seen as the second.
Our current copyright system is not succeeding in its objectives. I agree we should fight against piracy. But it’s becoming increasingly hard to legally enforce copyright rules, a battle that costs millions of dollars with little signs of victory.
Meanwhile, artists continue to struggle by on a pittance, as the copyright system fails to reward them properly. Read the full entry
At the Commission we work hard from lots of angles to promote a greener world, and I don’t think the ICT sector can be an exception (see here for what my own team is doing).
So, it’s great to see the Mobile sector’s Green Manifesto getting some real teeth today with 17 new recruits signing up to the GSM Association’s (GSMA) Mobile Energy Efficiency Network Benchmarking Service.
The idea, as I understand it, is that this will help operators measure and monitor their networks’ energy and carbon footprints. This is very welcome, in particular because the approach of using a common measurement framework. This approach mirrors the task we set for the whole ICT sector in our Digital Agenda for Europe. (My next question: which part of the sector is next? Tell me!)
The other point worth making here is about the GSMA’s active collaboration with international standardisation organizations. This will help us have really strong data to assess the life cycle impact of ICT. That can’t be over-estimated because we have to know what impact we are really dealing with in order to reduce it in the best ways. Transparency around metrics can reveal information on poorly (or well) functioning products and systems, and thus help us make meaningful progress towards sustainability. And again, it all fits with our approach in the Digital Agenda.
So, what does all of this mean? It means we have reason to think ICT industries are ‘getting their act together’ on green issues. It’s not enough to talk about how much energy digitization saves; we also have to deal with the sector’s growing appetite for energy. And with the insights gained from transparent metrics we are better able to do that. It may make the difference between an industry that devours energy and natural resources, and accelerates climate change, and one is at the heart of our work to treat the planet better. This is why the Commission has ranked the task among the 16 priority actions of our Digital Agenda, and it’s why I am pleased with this sort of progress through industry partnership.
Well, I’ve taken a great interest in the car industry for more than 30 years, starting as a telecoms and transport minister is The Netherlands in the 1970s and 80s. I’ve seen the changing trends in transport, the different uses of technology, and I’ve been in more than a couple of crisis meetings for the industry (as recently as a year ago). I’ve seen the dangers of subsidy races and under-investment in research. All these my memories and experiences of this industry help me see how it fits with the Digital Agenda.
It’s very clear in my mind then that the future of the European car industry – the last really big manufacturing industry in Europe – rests with intense and substantial research collaboration, and within that ICT innovation.
Crisis aid isn’t a sustainable future for this industry, only great research and innovation is. So when I speak about “Every European Digital,” what I want people involved in the car industry and its supply chain to hear is: “Every vehicle digital.”
Some of it is already happening, and with EU support too I might add. Read the full entry
Yesterday, Dutch health insurers and the Netherlands Bureau for Public Policy Analysis announced that the annual health insurance premium per person would rise by 300 Euros over the next four years. The reason for this is that the costs for healthcare will rise by 4% per year, while the economy is expected to grow only by 1.25%. Consequently Dutch citizens have to pay these higher costs. This is not acceptable.
Healthcare costs in Europe have been rising ever since the 1960s. It is expected that in 2050, 29% of the EU population will be over 65 years of age. It is uncertain how long the current health care system can be maintained. European governments therefore either seek to increase annual health care premiums or cut spending. Instead, they should focus on innovation and smart spending, such as e-health.
A 2008 case study showed that the annual costs per patient could be reduced by 36.7% by using e-health solutions. If e-health solutions were to implemented all over Europe, it is very likely that Europeans’ health care premiums would not rise but fall in the coming years. In times of fiscal austerity and rising deficits, smart spending is often more effective than cutting spending.
The EU’s Digital Agenda for Europe, which I am co-ordinating, gives a clear strategy to use ICT opportunities to the advantage of European society. E-health is one of the most promising of such opportunities. European governments should look towards the future and grasp the opportunities ICT is providing by preparing there people, young and old, for the years to come.
If you would rather look at the full text of my message to the amazing staff of Telecentre Europe, for their summit in Budapest this week, then read on.
Not only does Telecentre Europe do great work – your conference is
bringing to life the most important values of the Digital Agenda for
Europe: inclusion, ambition and partnership! Read the full entry
For example, the Digital Agenda is all about new ways of working. Partnerships such as European Innovation partnerships (EIPs) help to get innovations into the hands of ordinary people and businesses as quickly as possible. They do this by concentrating our resources: bringing together innovators from both the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, procurers and other interested parties. The partnerships are aimed at our grand challenges such as aspects of climate change, energy and food security, or supporting an ageing population.
The EIP on Active and Healthy Ageing is one where I am joining forces with my colleague John Dalli. It’s about bringing together the practitioners and recievers of care, along with the providers of solutions. In this area, with more than one billion euros between 2008 and 2013, the goal is a better a quality of life and seeing how ICT can be used to achieve this.
Examples that are working well include the Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programmewhichbrings together 23 countries to work onmarket oriented research (further information here), and a pilot called Renewing Health where nine regions of EU cooperate in tackling chronic conditions like heart failure and diabetes.
Another example is seen in the i2home video featured here, where EU-funded research is helping to create the home of the future.This research is improving accessibilityfor elderly people and those living with a disability, through a common remote console. If we can help this sort of progress into a mass market, it will make a big difference to millions of lives. People who now miss out on basic products or are forced to use expensive, limited or unstylish products will instead get the same sorts of choices as everyone else.
The benefits of more innovation are great. By investing in an Innovation Union we will be creating many thousands of high-paying jobs, improving the quality of life of millions, and reduce financial burdens on future generations.
Click here to read more about what the EU is doing on ageing and innovation Click here to know more about the EU policy on public health and ageing Click here to visit the i2home website
Me in Odense, Denmark learning about the AAL joint programme
This week has been a very busy and very big week for the EU’s broadband plans.
You should all know by now that we have a target to get basic broadband to all Europeans by the end of 2013, and fast broadband targets follow that.
This week we’ve moved from the vision onto concrete actions: the rules and the incentives for creating these networks in Europe. You can find all the details about our three announcements here: Next Generation Access recommendation, Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (helps to ensure wireless broadband can develop) and a plan to boost investmentin all types of broadband.
I also gave a major speech in Brussels to the key playersin this effort – the telecoms companies that will make the majority of the €200 billion or so that is needed to give Europe a first-class internet.
But the Internet is not just for developed countries – it should be for everyone, and that’s why I am getting involved in the United Nations Broadband Commission.
Finally, I am quite inspired by this video (also above) – this is a case of broadband by the people, for the people you might say. I really recommend you watch it. As the women explaining the process says: “if we can you do it, anyone can do it.” That is exactly the spirit we all need in the coming years – our digital future belongs to people willing to get invovled in building it!
Today is a big day for the Digital Agenda I am in charge of implementing – today we move from our goals and vision into concrete action.
I am announcing three complementary measuresthat have been agreed by the European Commission:
1. a common regulatory approach for access to new high-speed fibre networks (NGA Recommendation)
2. proposing a 5-year policy programme for radio spectrum to ensure that wireless broadband can play its full role in our internet future
3. a plan for how best to encourage private and public investment in fast and ultra-fast broadband networks.
In policy-making it is rare to find an issue and agree a programme that delivers something for everyone – improving our internet really is one of those rare instances. For consumers it’s about putting the digital world at your fingertips whether that’s shopping online, getting connected while travelling or being able to see a doctor no matter where you are located. For people in rural and remote areas our plan will mean communities get connected in ways that simply weren’t imaginable just a few years ago: we’re serious about delivering on our targetof Broadband for All.
Small and medium sized businesses will soon be getting faster access to “the cloud” – this puts new markets in reach, it helps level the playing field for struggling and new businesses. And for Telecoms operators – small or big – we’re growing new markets and giving the clarity that is needed to invest more.
I’ve had good feedback about some earlier Tweets on an important debate in the European Parliament, Monday.
You can read the full text of my two speeches here, or below. The first is my opening remarks, the second (perhaps more interesting) is the response I gave to the more than 50 MEPs who spoke passionately on the issue. Such free and long and passionate debates are what our democracy is all about.
Tell us what you think about the re-use of public sector information (PSI).It could be any PSI – maps, meteorological, legal, traffic, financial and economic information.
Re-use of public data already generating amazing products – from car navigation systems to weather forecasts and other “apps” for our mobiles – and I’m told the market is worth €27 billion each and every year, in the EU alone.
But the potential is much greater than we realise – if we can structure more opportunities to re-use this data we will be helping to create thousands of job and improvements to daily life.
