- 16 Aug 2012 - Deadline to submit proposals to the Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

- 16 Aug 2012 - Deadline to submit proposals to the Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (IEF)   

- 16 Aug 2012 - Deadline to submit proposals to the Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development (IOF)    

[...] 

As of 1^st July 2012, the Digital Agenda of the EU is managed by the European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, that is DG CONNECT.

This name represents the range of topics covered and its structure aligns the work of the DG with key EU policies for the coming decade: ensuring that digital technologies can help deliver the growth which the EU needs.

Vice President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda is Neelie Kroes.

Brussels, 23 July 2012 - The European Commission launched a public consultation seeking answers to questions on transparency, switching and certain aspects of internet traffic management, with a view to its commitment to preserve the open and neutral character of the Internet.

These questions have emerged as key issues in the "net neutrality" debate that has taken place in Europe over the past years, including the recent findings of the Body of European Regulators of European Communications (BEREC).

Input is sought from all interested public and private parties, including fixed and mobile internet service providers, Internet content and application providers (including comparison websites), equipment manufacturers, transit providers, investors, public authorities, consumers and their associations. The responses to this consultation will be crucial input for the Commission's planned recommendations announced by European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes on 29 May 2012 (see MEMO 12/389)

In particular the Commission seeks views on:

• internet traffic management, including congestion management, managed services and privacy issues;

• transparency, in particular regarding the actual internet performance (speed and quality) and restrictions of internet access products;

• the possibility for consumers to switch operators and

• internet interconnection issues between network operators.

The consultation document and additional information are available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/actions/oit-consultation/index_en.htm 

Responses to the public consultation should be sent before 15 October 2012. More details here. 

Brussels, 23 July 2012 - The European Commission is seeking the views of governments, businesses, citizens about their experiences and EU possible responses to cyber incidents which cause disruption to essential Network and Information Systems (NIS), including the internet.

The Commission launched this consultation to help it prepare a legislative proposal on network and information security, which will be an important element of the upcoming EU strategy on Cyber security. Feedback received will help the Commission draw up an approach to possible future risk management and security breach reporting requirements that would affect businesses in particular.

The consultation runs until 12 October 2012.

Brussels, 04 July 2012 - Passengers stranded at airports or awaiting missing luggage may now use a smartphone application to check their rights immediately and on the spot.

Just in time for the summer holidays, the European Commission has launched an application for smartphones which covers air and rail transport and works on four mobile platforms: Apple iPhone and iPad, Google Android, RIM Blackberry and Microsoft Windows Phone 7. The app is available in 22 EU languages. It currently covers air and rail transport and will be extended to bus / coach and marine travel in 2013 when these rights come into force.

When a journey does not go as expected, it is often a stressful experience. Whether a flight is cancelled, a package holiday hotel is not as advertised or a train time is changed - the situation is much easier to deal with if the passenger knows his or her entitlements.

For each potential problem, the app explains the passenger's rights.

It is also good to know that rail and air companies are obliged to provide transparent information on pricing and assist passengers with reduced mobility. More info on this piece of news here. 

The EC "Your Passenger Rights at hand" initiative can be found here. 

Brussels, 03 July 2012 - After sometime of uncertainty and delays, the European Parliament delivered a resolution on eCall, "a new 112 service for citizens".  

The EP welcomes the Commission's recommendation of 8 September 2011, and urges the Member States and the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to implement its required measures and upgrades at the latest by the end of 2014; regrets, however, that only 18 Member States responded in time; calls on the remaining Member States to do so as soon as possible.  

It also urges the European Commission to submit a proposal within the framework of Directive 2007/46/EC in order to ensure the mandatory deployment of a public, 112-based eCall system by 2015 in all new, type-approved cars and in all Member States.

All details on the adopted texts can be found here. 

Brussels, 03 July 2012 - New EU rules to allow more competition on the rail market look set to come into force by the end of this year, following a final vote of approval in the European Parliament today.

The new rules (Rail Recast Directive) tackle 3 major problems on the market: (1) strengthening the power of national regulators; (2) improving the framework for investment in rail (3) ensuring fair access to rail infrastructure and rail related services. They are a direct response to many complaints from operators in recent years.

Brussels, 10 July 2012 - One of the greatest challenges facing the EU is how best to design and adapt cities into smart intelligent and sustainable environments. Almost three quarters of Europeans live in cities, consuming 70% of the EU's energy. Congestion costs Europe about 1% of its GDP every year; most of it is located in urban areas. Smart urban technologies can make a major contribution to tackling many urban challenges.

By launching a Smart Cities and Communities European Innovation Partnership (SCC) the European Commission aims to boost the development of smart technologies in cities - by pooling research resources from Energy, Transport and ICT and concentrating them on a small number of demonstration projects which will be implemented in partnership with cities. For 2013 alone, € 365 million in EU funds have been earmarked for the demonstration of these types of urban technology solutions.

Currently many obstacles limit the potential of innovative smart technologies, for example high technological risk, difficulties over uncertain returns on investment or regulatory difficulties. In tough economic times, businesses and cities are also reluctant to scale up and rapidly deploy innovative technologies despite potential cost savings and longer-term emissions reductions.

The transport, energy and ICT services and value chains are also now converging. The EU has many years of experience promoting and implementing urban projects in transport, energy and information technology, those efforts need also to converge to create "new thinking" across sectors.

- 04 Aug 2012 - London (UK) - BIZ+ICT - Technology, Media & Telecommunications for the London 2012 Olympic Games 

- 06 Aug 2012 - London (UK) - BIZ+ICT - FT Conference - DOING BUSINESS WITH CANADA - Building Competitive Advantage with Canada's Digital Economy 

- 08 Aug 2012 - London (UK) - BIZ - FT Conference - GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERS DAY -  Economic Outlook: Finding Opportunity in Today's Changing Economic Environment 

- 10 Aug 2012 - London (UK) - BIZ+TEC - FT Conference - DOING BUSINESS WITH CANADA - Building Competitive Advantage with Canada's Most Advanced Manufacturing Industries   

- 13-17 Aug 2012 - Glasgow (UK) - INN - 8th World Congress on Active Ageing 

- 13-17 Aug 2012 - Espoo (FI) - PRO+TRA - Concepts and Practices about Sustainability in Transportation - Executive Course 

- 15-16 Aug 2012 - Vaasa (FI) - EUP+TRA - MID-TERM CONFERENCE OF NECL II (Mid-Nordic Green Transport Corridor) 

[...]

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