e-SEE Task Force

Conclusions of the 6th eSEE Working Group Meeting

The 6th eSEE WG meeting was held in Skopje hosted by the Macedonian Telecom Directorate of the Ministry of Transport Communications on the 4th of February 2003 (See attached list of participants and agenda of the meeting). Mr. Aziz Polozani, Minister of Education and Science of Macedonia opened the meeting and underlined Macedonian government’s commitment to the development of Information Society. Marijana Vidas Bubanja, the chairperson of the eSEE WG, chaired the meeting. .

The objective of the meeting was to discuss the present state of play as regards to the fulfilment of the commitments and to agree on the required steps for the timely implementation of the eSEE Agenda for the Development of Information Society signed by countries of the SEE region in Belgrade on the 29th of October 2002.

It was agreed that the eSEE WG current focus of activity would include the items of the eSEE Agenda and benchmarking:

Progress on the above activities is expected to be in line with the deadlines of the eSEE Agenda. An eSEE WG progress report will be prepared that would serve also as contribution of the Group to the meetings of the Stability Pact Working Table II and the Regional Table to be held in Zagreb on the 26-27 May 2003.

The eSEE WG discussed the previously distributed papers related to the Agenda items. The meeting showed strong commitments of the Signatory countries of the eSEE Agenda and of the supporting countries and organizations. The eSEE Agenda for the Development of Information Society and the conclusions of the Belgrade Telecom conference (28-29 October 2002) are expected to be endorsed by the SEECP summit in Belgrade this March.

Agreed operational steps to be taken to facilitate implementation are as follows:

1. Unified common guidelines for the creation of the National Information Society Policies

UNDP representative Mr. Yevgeny Korneev (yevgeny.korneev@undp.org) presented the draft policy guidelines for the development of the Information Society drawn from UNDP experience. Written comments of the appointed policy officials of the signatory countries of the eSEE Agenda and other WG members are requested to be sent to Mr. Korneev. He is going to be the focal point for comments and ideas about these guidelines. INA-Greece agreed to contribute to the guidelines by preparing additional part on Telecom regulation in association with UNDP. This specific section will be inserted into the draft guidelines by UNDP. The draft guidelines containing the inputs and comments and will be circulated to the appointed policy officials and to the eSEE WG members. Final discussion and approval of the document would take place on the occasion of the next eSEE WG meeting planned in April.

2. Unified Terms of Reference for the establishment of Cabinet Level Bodies for IS development

Adviser of the Chair Mr. Branislav Andjelic presented a concept paper on this subject at the Skopje meeting. Hungarian regulation and practice was presented by WG member Mr. Miklos Havass. It was agreed that Mr. Dusan Caf / Slovenia (dusan.caf@telekom.si) would be the focal point on this specific issue. Written comments and contributions of the appointed policy officials and other WG members should be sent to him. An improved draft version of the unified TOR for the cabinet level bodies for IS development taking into consideration the inputs of the appointed policy officials and other eSEE WG members will be circulated for final discussion and approval of the Group for the next WG meeting planned in April.

3. eSEE Benchmarking

Benchmarking activity was identified as key element to help the integration of the Signatories of the eSEE Agenda into the ongoing European processes. It was agreed that benchmarking activity will aim at two main objectives:

a. Monitoring the fulfillment of the commitments of the eSEE Agenda by the eSEE WG
b. Introduce into the countries of the Signatories of the eSEE Agenda the eEurope and eEurope+ practices of benchmarking

Actual guidelines for eEurope+ benchmarking provided by EC DG Information Society were distributed at the meeting. However the present practice is being revised. The changes are expected to be defined soon. The eSEE WG will be informed of the updated versions.

In the meantime the appointed policy officials are requested to identify contact persons in the National Offices for Statistics. It was agreed that Mr. Branislav Andjelic (andjelic@arii.sr.gov.yu) would be the focal point on this specific issue. The names and contact details of the representatives from the National Offices for Statistics should be sent to him by the appointed policy officials.

The Serbian Internet Agency is planning a workshop on the organization of benchmarking in May in Belgrade in association with EC DG Information Society. Representatives from the National Offices for Statistics could be invited to this workshop in order to organize benchmarking in the countries of the Signatories of the eSEE Agenda. Inputs and information on the actual state of play of any benchmarking activity on IS development are welcome.

4. Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Cyber crime

The appointed policy officials are kindly requested to prepare information for the next eSEE WG meeting whether their country has ratified this convention and what the situation is regarding this commitment.

5. Seminar organized by US CLDP

The US Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) will organize the Telecom Law Judicial Consultations in the second week of July this year in Washington, D.C. The aim of the Consultations is to give an opportunity to the judiciary and regulator’s representatives to share the experience in adjudicating disputes arising under the new telecommunications laws. Some of the key areas that need improvement in order to further promote and enforce effective competition in the Telecom sector are strengthening the independence and the authority of the regulators as well as of the judiciary in SEE countries. CLDP plans to invite three judges and two regulators from each of the 7 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro) from the region.

The appointed policy officials were requested to send recommendations for the invitees to Ms. Renata Juric. Mailing address: cldp@mail.inet.hr

6. Date and venue of the next eSEE WG meeting

The chair and SP office will start consultation on the date and venue of the next eSEE WG meeting planned for April.

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