COM(2005) 234 final
Further to the second Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2) meeting, the process leading to the second WSIS Summit meeting (Tunis, 16-18 November 2005) has entered a crucial phase. It should lead to an agreement on final documents presenting conclusions on the two unresolved issues from the first phase, Internet governance and financial mechanisms, and outline what form WSIS implementation and follow-up should take. In parallel to the WSIS process, the European Union (EU) is itself at an important juncture with regard to Information Society policies. The Commission has recently launched a key initiative to boost the Lisbon agenda and to promote higher growth, more jobs and greater inclusion. Policies on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), content and Research and Development (R&D) play an important role in this context. Thus, the Commission is about to present i2010, a new initiative to tap the economic potential of ICTs for generating growth in Europe. In addition, the Commission has just tabled two major proposals to strengthen Europes position in ICTs: the seventh R&D Framework Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).1 Furthermore, the EU has reviewed its contributions to the Millennium Development Goals process.2 Finally, the EU is defining its position for the ongoing WTO negotiations, and for the upcoming 2006 Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).