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Information Society and Media

2. Regulation, research, promotion

In 1987, the European Commission put forward a landmark policy paper, answering to the first signs of telecommunications liberalisation in Europe and the United States.

Today, regulatory environment, that emphasises competition, a world-class research programme and the promotion of wider use are the tools used by the EU to achieve an Information Society.

To be able to tackle the challenges of a converging economy, the Information Society and Media Directorate General supports the development and take up of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the creation of an Information Society. Its role is to:

• support innovation and competitiveness in Europe, through excellence in ICT research and development;
• define and implement a regulatory environment that enables rapid development of services based on information, communication and audio-visual technologies, and so fostering competition that supports investment, growth and jobs;
• encourage the widespread availability and accessibility of ICT-based services, especially those that have the greatest impact on the quality of life of the citizens;
• foster the growth of content industries drawing on Europe’s cultural diversity;
• represent the European Commission in international dialogue and negotiations in these fields and promote international cooperation in ICT research and development.