European Commissioner Kroes Delighted with INTUG Collaboration
Last week an INTUG delegation met with the EC Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes for the first time, during which she requested immediate input and regular updates on specific issues relevant to business users of communications services.
INTUG and several business representatives spoke about the barriers that keep them from reaping full benefits of the EU single market, and how seamless international network services would enable users to invest in ICT strategies, which produce more efficient business processes.
During the meeting, the commissioner and the delegation discussed a wide range of topics, from the importance of protecting competition for next generation networks, to the need for an effective international mobile market, the continuing problem of excessive charges in roaming and termination rates, and the impact of inconsistent standards for privacy and for SIP telephony.
The standards topic was particularly timely for Ms. Kroes. Freddy Van den Wijngaert, CIO Agfa and Erik Verhulst, Global Manager Infrastructure & Operations, Nyrstar described how the lack of standards impacts their businesses.
At the end of the meeting, Ms. Kroes commented on how important the views of users are to her in her work, and asked INTUG to provide regular updates on specific issues of concern as they come up, apart from the usual submissions to commission consultations.
She even asked some of the delegates to stay in order to put together a written opinion on standards for her to use at her next meeting that day.
INTUG looks forward to building a productive relationship with the commissioner.
Attendees to the meeting were: Leonard Pera, AUTELSI (Spanish Users Group)/Board member INTUG, Danielle Jacobs, BELTUG/Vice President Europe INTUG, Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner Digital Agenda, Rosemary Sinclair, ATUG (Australian user Group)/Chairman INTUG, Freddy Van den Wijngaert, CIO Agfa, Belgium, Nick White, Executive Vice President INTUG, Erik Verhulst, Global Manager Infrastructure & Operations, Nyrstar, Belgium, Jon Neville, General Manager, EVUA (International user group)/ Board member INTUG, David Harrington, Head of Regulatory Affairs, CMA (UK Users Group).
