Electronic Communication, Audiovisual Services and Information Society (ECASIS)  

The ECASIS Working Group is responsible for the legislation contained in Chapters X (Audiovisual Services) and XI (Telecommunication Services except Postal Services) and for cooperation in these fields outside of the four freedoms, governed by Protocol 31.

The audiovisual sector is governed by the Television without Frontiers Directive, which has been amended by the Audiovisual Services and Media Directive. The Working Group is also responsible for the participation of the EEA EFTA States in the MEDIA programmes.

In the telecommunications sector, the EEA Agreement covers the legislative framework on electronic communication services and markets. It also covers legislation on harmonising the use of spectrum.

Annex XI covers legislation in the field of information society services, Community legislation such as the Directive laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations, the Directive on electronic commerce or the Community framework on electronic signatures. The Working Group also covers cooperation outside of the four freedoms in the field of information society services, notably participation in programmes such as the Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme under CIP and the Safer Internet Plus Programme. It also covers participation by the EEA EFTA States in the European Network Information Security Agency.

Finally, Annex XI covers EU legislation on data protection, based on Article 96 of the Treaty, such as the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and the secondary legislation derived from it.

The Working Group meets four to six times per year.

See also: Europe's Information Society
 

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Anders Lindgård Gjøoen

Officer
SCD, Brussels
T +32 2 286 17 59

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