The Working Group on Electronic Communication, Audiovisual Services and Information Society (ECASIS) is responsible for legislation pertaining to the digital single market and making Europe fit for the digital age. These areas are covered by Article 36 of the EEA Agreement and relevant EU law is incorporated into Annex XI and Protocol 31 of the EEA Agreement.
Electronic Communication covers all forms of electronic transmission of information, including telecommunications, broadcasting and the internet. Through the EEA Agreement, the EEA EFTA States are part of the EU’s internal market in the field of Electronic Communication. One of the core pieces of legislation is the EU regulatory framework for telecommunications, which establishes equal conditions for competition in the EEA telecoms market. Other EU rules, for example on radio spectrum management, roaming, privacy protection in electronic networks and net-neutrality, also apply throughout the EEA. The main objectives of these rules are to offer consumers a greater choice of services, increase levels of connectivity and guarantee basic user rights and protection.
The Audiovisual Media Services Directive is the legal framework establishing the legal regulatory and administrative conditions related to the provision and distribution of Audiovisual Media Services in the EEA. These rules also aim to support European works, protect children and consumers, including on video-on-demand services, safeguard media pluralism and combat incitement to violence or hatred.
Information Society covers rules regarding the free movement of information society services and applies to a wide range of economic activities that take place online. It includes rules on e-commerce, cross-border data flows, the re-use of public sector information and cyber security, as well as a framework for electronic identification and signatures. The EEA EFTA States participate in a number of EU expert groups working to implement digital single market policies.
The Working Group on Electronic Communication, Audiovisual Services and Information Society (ECASIS) covers these three interlinked areas, and also follows up on horizontal initiatives related to the European strategies for data and Artificial Intelligence. The Working Group meets three times a year in Brussels.