“The world-famous composer was bestowed the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to promoting Hungarian music”, Ministerial Commissioner for Social Relations Zsolt Nyitrai said when presenting the award.

“Ennio Morricone has worked with Hungarian orchestras and choirs on many occasions during his world tours, and will also be performing with the Kodály Choir on Wednesday evening”, he highlighted.

The composer, who also composed the music for the Hungarian film Faithless (Sorstalanság), based on the Nobel Prize-winning novel of the same name by Hungarian author Imre Kertész, said it was a great honour ad expressed his thanks for the award, which Mr. Nyitrai presented him with in the name of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President of the Republic János Áder.

Also present at the event was film director Lajos Koltai, who has worked with Ennio Morricone on his films Faithless and Malena, and who congratulated the composer on receiving the state decoration.

(MTI)

Commissioner Nyitrai – ranked as minister of state – is assigned to deal with national dialogue within the transforming governmental communication as well as organizing and directing government campaigns.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced at the Parliamentary Faction Meeting in Hajdúszoboszló that Zsolt Nyitrai would work on national dialogue and government HR in the future.

Parallel to his appointment, from today Mr. Nyitrai leaves the position of the Minister of State for Infocommunication at the Ministry of National Development. The position – according to our information- will not be taken; the sector will directly be overseen by the minister, and current Deputy State Secretary Vilmos Vályi-Nagy will participate in controlling the infocommunication sector.

Zsolt Nyitrai worked as the Operative Director of Fidesz between 2006 ad 2010. He coordinated the party’s 2010 campaign and the creation of the central design too.

Minister of National Development Tamás Fellegi has decided to restructure the Ministry of National Development in order to harmonize with governmental restructuring aimed at dealing effectively with the impacts of the economic crisis.

According to the press release issued by the ministry the current six minister of state positions will organize into four: property management, development policy, energy and climate and infrastructure. The ministry’s press release claims that after having successfully completed six EU council formation presidencies, the restructuring will take place based upon the experiences of the first year in government.

(Translated from the article of Magyar Nemzet)

Mr Zsolt Nyitrai emphasized that in the field of infocommunication, Hungary’s activity during its Presidency had been characterised by a wide range of dialogues and consensus seeking, and the targeted objectives had been achieved regarding the Digital Agenda, in network and information technological security, as well as spectrum policy.

Undersecretary of State Magdalena Gaj acknowledged the fruitful accomplishments of the Hungarian Presidency: “The achievements of our Hungarian friends, which have been reached during their Presidency in the Council, prove that the Central European countries are the driving force of the enlarged Union.” Undersecretary of State Piotr Kołodziejczyk added that the Hungarian Presidency set a high standard for the Polish Presidency to follow.

The Digital Agenda served the welfare of European citizens, making significant contribution to the economic recovery and the improvement of competitiveness of the European Union, which are the primary goals and duties of every interested stakeholder. Mr Nyitrai acknowledged that the need to accelerate the realisation of the Digital Agenda, the development of standardised digital services on the European market, and the facilitation of such activities by SMEs was emphasized at the 27 May 2011 meeting of the Telecommunications Council. Mr Kołodziejczyk underlined the importance and horizontal nature of the implementation of the Digital Agenda – a major flagship of Europe 2020 strategy. The Polish Presidency will be working towards the Council conclusions on the progress achieved with the long term objective to give input of TTE Council to the European Semester.

Mr Nyitrai reported that the Hungarian Presidency had made actual progress in connection with the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA). As the parliamentary draft report on the Agency’s modernisation is expected in September 2011, the most important task during the past six months was to ensure that ENISA can continue work with a clear mandate in the next few years. The draft regulation made of the 18-month extension of the Agency’s mandate with unchanged powers submitted by the Presidency was received with general approval. As the events expected in the near future will be of similarly high account in this respect, the Polish Presidency must continue the work and we will give all assistance to them, Mr Nyitrai promised. Thanking the Hungarian Presidency for the progress achieved, Undersecretary of State Kołodziejczyk mentioned that Polish Presidency attaches great care to the security of the European citizens and will put much effort into finalizing the file during next 6-month period.

In order to identify the threats to electronic telecommunication services and networks, and seek efficient solutions, the Hungarian Presidency organised a ministerial conference in April. This programme was meant to prepare the formal debates of the 27 May 2011 ministerial meeting and lay the foundations of the subsequently approved Council conclusions.

In connection with Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP), Zsolt Nyitrai stressed the significance of setting up national CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) institutions in the Member States, elaborating national strategies and emergency response plans by 2012 and regularly organise national and European cyber security practices.

The other priority legislative dossier elaborated during the Hungarian presidency is related to the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP). The Hungarian Presidency encouraged the adoption of the programme that can create the conditions of development of wireless broadband and other frequency-based services and spread them all over Europe, keeping the interests of Europe’s citizens and businesses in sight. The Hungarian Presidency had accomplished major progress in the Council, the Minister of State reported and pointed out that no major important issue remained in the proposal on the radio spectrum policy programme between the Member States, and thus the Polish Presidency could use the progress report as a good basis for further consultations with the European Parliament.

Undersecretary of State Gaj expressed her gratitude for the works associated with the RSPP. The agreement in the Council reached by the Hungarian Presidency and the advancement of the work allow us to believe that all contentious issues will be agreed during the next six months, and the agreed document could enter into force as soon as possible. During the TTE Council in December, the Polish Presidency aims at finishing the first reading in the Council. At the same time, we hope to reach the agreement with the European Parliament in order to adopt the dossier in the early second reading procedure informed Magdalena Gaj.

Touching upon e-government, Zsolt Nyitrai recalled that the Hungarian Presidency had prepared Council conclusions for the period between 2011/2015. The document sets out objectives and duties like promoting the best possible e-government services for the citizens and the businesses, facilitating mobility in the internal market, improvement of government efficiency, the creation of appropriate legal background and improving the efficiency of setting up e-government services. In line with that Mr Kołodziejczyk mentioned that the Polish Presidency will organise a ministerial meeting and a conference on e-government in Poznań (18-19 October). This will be the largest event during the Polish Presidency, with the overall theme – borderless electronic e-government services for the Europeans.

The most significant tasks during the Hungarian Presidency included the assessment and identification of the execution of the EGNOS and Galileo European Satellite navigation programmes and the identification of the pivotal future tasks, Mr Nyitrai added. At its 31 March 2011 meeting the Transport Council adopted Council conclusions on this topic to set out the path for the compilation of draft legislative proposals on the operation and financing of European satellite navigation programmes after 2013. In connection with the draft decision on the rules of access to Galileo’s Public Regulated Services, the Hungarian Presidency held intensive talks and the committee of specialists is expected to approve the draft report on 30 June 2011.

Undersecretary of State Gaj mentioned that the roaming regulation is another Polish priority: “It is particularly important because of our consumers who should be able to roam freely in united Europe and take abroad their laptops and smartphones and do not worry about the excessive bills. After the disclosure of the Commission’s proposal at the beginning of July, the Polish Presidency will prepare the progress report. Moreover, we will try to reach a political agreement during the TTE Council in December.” Besides of this dossier, the Polish Presidency will work on other important topics such as universal service, net neutrality and Galileo.

Magdalena Gaj summarized that Poland is very grateful for the Hungarian efforts and kindness to handover the dossiers during the last days of their Presidency. “We are learning from our Hungarian friends, how to cooperate with our Danish followers, as the presidency in the EU is a relay race” – stressed Mr Kołodziejczyk.

We had made a step forward, but work cannot stop – the Minister of State Nyitrai pointed out, and added that the Member States’ additional tasks included the review of data roaming, and the extension and setting up the guiding principles of modern e-governance. “The period of Hungarian Presidency having closed, we will not run out of duties: work on European Union affairs continues, and the Polish Presidency to succeed us will work partly on the tasks we have started and partly on newly emerging ones. For this very reason, the Hungarian Presidency had been working in close co-operation with the country next in turn in Presidency in order to close 2011 as a successful year for Central Europe” – Mr Zsolt Nyitrai concluded his speech.

Hungarian and Polish Presidencies of the Council of the European Union

 

 

Minister of State for Infocommunications Zsolt Nyitrai, representing the Hungarian EU Presidency, Undersecretary of State for Telecommunications Magdalena Gaj, representing the upcoming Polish EU Presidency, Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda and, via video link, Gunnar Hökmark, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for spectrum, met in Brussels to discuss one of the EU’s most significant legislative proposals in the digital agenda, the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP – see MEMO/10/425).

The participants agreed that the EU must have a strong and ambitious strategic programme for spectrum if it is to ensure competiveness and growth and reap the benefits of technological innovation for citizens. In particular, they agreed efficient EU spectrum policy is a top priority for Europe and that the rapid adoption of an ambitious RSPP is needed in order to make more spectrum available fostering further increase in broadband deployment, particularly in remote areas, and allowing uptake of new and innovative uses of spectrum.

The key EU players have discussed the timing of the dossier and noted that considerable progress was made by the Parliament and by the Council during the Hungarian Presidency. They agreed that this momentum should be exploited under the upcoming Polish EU Presidency, with the aim of reconciling the Council and Parliament position and to reach an agreement if possible by the end of the year. All parties agreed to continue the constructive collaboration to ensure sufficient spectrum for Europe’s spectrum-based industries making an important contribution to the digital society, fast wireless services, economic recovery, growth, high-quality jobs and long-term EU competitiveness.

“Spectrum has been a key dossier of the Hungarian ICT Presidency programme. We have been making all the efforts to achieve agreement within the Council. Thanks to the work performed and the progress report prepared by the Hungarian Presidency, no major outstanding issues remained in the Council in connection with the proposal. Now we need to strike the best agreement, taking account of the views of stakeholders in order to provide Europe with the necessary instruments to compete on the global telecoms scene” – Minister Nyitrai underlined.

“There was progress made during the Hungarian Presidency and spectrum will be one of the main telecommunications priorities of the upcoming Polish Presidency, too” – underlined Minister Gaj. “We need a well–balanced approach as well as a good and close cooperation with the Parliament and the Commission, in order to achieve a compromise as soon as it is possible. There is a need for an early adoption, considering the deadlines and remaining implementing work. The right management of spectrum fosters economic growth and is essential for the digital Europe and creation of the single market. Spectrum could be also used as a mean against the digital gap, answering the needs of the EU citizens. A more efficient allocation of spectrum could also unlock the potential of the knowledge-based European economy. For that reasons the aim of the Polish Presidency is to accelerate works on that significant legislative dossier.”

Vice President Kroes said “An ambitious Radio Spectrum Programme is vital for the Digital Agenda and economic growth. Additional frequencies would provide better connections and speed for important new services. As other parts of the world forge ahead with major spectrum initiatives, Europe cannot afford to loose out through lack of ambition”.

“I want Europe to be in the lead. Because the lead in ICT, mobile broadband and Internet will give you the lead in new services, new applications, new technologies and new competitiveness in the economy as a whole. We must be in the lead creating room for the Googles, Facebooks, Yahoos and Apples, and Blackberries, of tomorrow, with companies staying and developing worldwide in Europe. We must be in the lead allocating frequencies making sure we have the best connectivity, capacity and speed for new services and the most modern economy. Bridging the digital divide. Paving the way for transnational services. Creating the opportunities for the highest speeds possible. That’s what we can do, as politicians.” – underlined MEP Hökmark.

Background

Radio spectrum is a resource of tremendous economic, societal and cultural value, as it is the basis of important services such as broadcasting, mobile communications, wireless broadband, navigation, public safety, etc. Radio spectrum is public good under national control, which, where appropriate, should be managed in a coordinated manner in line with EU principles.

The new EU legislation for electronic communications calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and Council to establish a multiannual Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) setting out policy orientations and objectives for the strategic planning and harmonisation of the use of spectrum. Spectrum policy initiatives are also key to the Digital Agenda for Europe and to the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The proposal for the first RSPP, presented by the Commission in September 2010, aims to establish a five-year policy programme to promote efficient radio spectrum management and, in particular, to ensure that sufficient spectrum is made available by 2013 for wireless broadband helping the EU fulfil its commitments in the Digital Agenda for Europe to give every European access to basic broadband by 2013 and fast and ultrafast broadband by 2020. During the Hungarian Presidency, the Council in its meeting on 27 May took note of a progress report together with a Presidency compromise proposal, while the European Parliament voted its report on 11 May 2011 (see MEMO/11/290).

The Council has reached a political agreement on the goals of the Radio Spectrum Policy Program (RSPP), which focuses on regulating the utilisation of the freed-up radio frequencies. The proposal aims to have enough frequencies available in the European Union so that anyone can have broadband Internet connection. This would implement the commitment of the European Digital Agenda that every EU citizen will have basic broadband Internet access by 2013, and fast or ultra-fast broadband by 2020.

No contested points left

At the press conference, which was held in the break of the meeting, Zsolt Nyitrai said access to broadband Internet, “Is a part of the promotion of equal opportunities for European citizens and of the EU’s competitiveness.” The Minister of State added that this prompted the Presidency to reach an agreement on every point of the document, as soon as possible. Mr Nyitrai stressed that the Hungarian Presidency’s progress report containing proposals for a compromise, left no more contested points between Member States. Mr Nyitrai added that the negotiations will continue at a high-level meeting in June, to reach an agreement by the end of this year.

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for digital affairs, thanked the Presidency for its efforts at the press conference; but she did not conceal that some points still need to be discussed. At the same time, she said it is a positive sign that the European Parliament appears to be open. “It is a very optimistic opinion that we will reach an agreement by the end of this year, but the Presidency has done a great job so far,” Ms Kroes emphasised.

ENISA mandate extended

At the session, the Council adopted the Presidency’s proposal to extend the mandate of the European Network and Information Security Agency’s (ENISA), by 18 months. At the press conference, Zsolt Nyitrai welcomed the decision, which he thinks, “Will do away with the uncertainty around the agency”. Mr Nyitrai said that network security requires more and more attention, and ENISA plays a key role there. On a special note, the Minister of State was happy that ministers reached an agreement on the fundamental principles of future operation of the agency. “There is a real opportunity to modernise the agency’s operation within the shortest possible time,”said Mr Nyitrai evaluating the situation. Neelie Kroes also considered the agreement a success. According to the Commissioner, everyone knows that the activity of ENISA is very important, and “Every Member State needs the agency’s support”. Ms Kroes pointed out that the most important question is how ENISA will carry out its tasks. “Primarily, the agency needs to carry out its tasks efficiently.” said the Commissioner.

Strengthening digital trust

At the Council meeting, the ministers also adopted Council conclusions on critical information infrastructure protection. Zsolt Nyitrai stressed at the press conference, that the conclusions, prepared in consideration of the experiences of the ministerial conference in Balatonfüred, on 14-15 April 2011, sets out in detail that Member States must develop efficient and coordinated responses to the new and increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks and crimes.

At the business lunch offered by the Hungarian Presidency after the press conference, the ministers exchanged views on the implementation of the goals of the Digital Agenda. Afterwards, the Council adopted conclusions on e-government services. Zsolt Nyitrai stressed at the meeting that e-government services enables governments to provide better services for citizens and businesses in a cost-effective manner. The Minister of State also said that e-government services will allow citizens to further leverage the advantages of the single market.

The Hungarian Presidency assigned overriding significance to IT security: it was placed in the focus of the Telecom Ministerial Conference organised at Balatonfüred as well as the recently held meeting on the calling number 112, Mr Nyitrai reminded.

This is the very first time Tetra World Congress and exhibition, the largest global event of professional digital mobile communication, used primarily by defence organisations, is hosted by a CEE country. In addition to four thousand police chiefs, senior firemen and ambulance officers, representatives of global telecommunication companies and corporations in the vanguard of information technological development participate in the event organised by Hungexpo Budapest between 24-27 May 2011.

At the opening ceremony of the event, Zsolt Nyitrai stressed that safe communication was extremely important in view of terrorism and the various natural disasters we have recently experienced.TETRA is a professional radiocommunication standard and system used worldwide by organisations that require highly secure and strictly confidential communication. For the most part this technology, applied in 70 countries, provides for communication by first responders – the fire service, the emergency health services and the police -, but it is also instrumental in the work of key manufacturers and transport companies. The success of TETRA is evidenced by the fact that by now the European Union’s standard has spread in four other continents of the world.

Zsolt Nyitrai pointed out that the open digital trunked radio standards relying on TETRA technology have been used by ten Hungarian organisations.

Minister of State for Infocommunication of the Hungarian Ministry of National Development and current President of the Telecommunication Formation of the Council on Transport, Telecommunication and Energy of the European Union asserted: “The Hungarian EU Presidency’s aims can be easily summed up in our slogan of ‘Strong Europe’. We believe that the collaboration of Europe can only serve the continent if such collaboration continues to extend and deepen at the same time. With regard to the Hungarian Presidency’s goals I must note that our aim is to reach decisions based on dialogue and consensus. There is no time to waste, our world is changing rapidly − and this is particularly true for telecommunications. To summarize I would say that we, European states, should strive for stimulating a faster expansion of network economy, we should encourage the strengthening of digital economy.”

“With a more radical use of machine to machine communication in the field of automation, telecontrol, telemetry, smart city management and intelligent traffic systems, such opportunities should arise for Europe, which can radically increase our competitiveness and are able to open a new dimension in front of millions of users” – Nyitrai said.

M2M communication opened a new horisone

“We can easily imagine how much simpler and more comfortable will be the life in Europe when such traffic applications are available with our smart phones , which are able to plan our routes with the help of real-time GPS services and they can indicate the touristic places of interests as well. We also do not need lots of imagination for fancying how smarter will be the urban planning when waste transportation is included in intelligent city management. The possibilities are endless and I hope that you will suggest such solutions for decision-makers which open new and useful employments for millions of European users” – emphasized the Hungarian Minister of State for Infocommunication.

Nyitrai: the critical information infrastructure program is more than security

Nyitrai claimed that the critical information infrastructure protection is not only a question of security; it is closely linked to the competitiveness of the European Union. Cyber attacks impede the wide spreading of IT solutions (e-payment, e-banking, use of bank cards) in the daily life of citizens. Furthermore an increasing number of political attacks was carried out against the Internet recently as well. Europe and thus the Hungarian Presidency should deal with preventing cyber crime, and responses should be planned in line with the current threats.

“Parallel to that we should face new challenges in the field of data protection and citizens’ fundamental privacy rights. If the member states of the European Union do not recognise and unite against these challenges to find the proper steps to be taken, then Europe will not be able to obtain its leading role among the future internet societies and economies” – underlined the current President of the Telecommunication Formation of the Council on Transport, Telecommunication and Energy of the European Union.

Zsolt Nyitrai, current Chairman of the Telecommunications section in the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the European Union stressed: the Hungarian Presidency supports the further promotion of welfare and competitiveness of European states and citizens on the basis of the European Digital Agenda. Moreover, new solutions are needed in spreading audiovisual content, Mr Nyitrai added.

He also pointed out that new media and new consumer habits profoundly refashioned the audiovisual market. In the online space, the average time viewing digitalised films and listening to music is far higher than the number of the interested people who could be attracted to cinemas and concerts. In order to enforce authors’ and composers’ copyrights, we need to elaborate a regulation that takes the new ways of content consumption into account while honouring authors’ special rights, Zsolt Nyitrai voiced.

He also noted that a conflict between the consumers of the audiovisual industry and authors does not lead anywhere; therefore the opportunity of a long-term dialogue and consensus must be sought.

During the programme, Minister of State for Infocommunication, Zsolt Nyitrai of the Ministry of National Development pointed out that the task to ensure safe operation for the economy and protect citizens’ interests had turned the undisturbed functioning of IT infrastructures a critical issue. In order to improve the resilience and protection of our IT systems and networks, they need to be updated at a pan-European and global level. To this end, close and efficient co-operation must be built in Europe and globally.

Representing the Hungarian Presidency, Minister of State Zsolt Nyitrai highlighted: protection of the critical infrastructure was not exclusively a security issue, it was closely connected to the European Union’s competitiveness. Cyber attacks impede the wide spread of infocommunication solutions (online payment, bank card use) in citizens’ everyday routine, and the worldwide web is exposed to an increasing number of political attacks. Europe, and thus the Hungarian Presidency, must consider digital crime prevention, and plan its responses in proportion to the current threat. Simultaneously, new challenges must be faced in the protection of European citizens’ fundamental rights to data protection and privacy.

Zsolt Nyitrai thinks that although the current situation of critical infrastructure protection has improved considerably in the European Union, network access devices are spreading much faster than security solutions. Thus users frequently put at a disadvantage against phishers. The European Union must protect its citizens’ privacy, business and economic interests, and a Europe-wide co-operation is required in order to provide up-to-date protection for IT infrastructures.

This exchange of views was a preparation for the Telecommunications Council meeting to be held at the end of May, which will have the discussion of the Draft Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, the E-Government Action Plan and the proposal on the regulation of the European Network and Information Security Agency among its agenda items. The aim of the Hungarian Presidency is to contribute to rapid and effective progress by the adoption of Council conclusions in the field of infrastructure protection.

Representing the Hungarian Presidency of the Europe Union, Minister of State for Infocommunication Zsolt Nyitrai delivered an inaugural address, stating that the number 112 was a symbolic solution for Europe’s unity, as by calling this number Europe’s citizens can get help in any Member State, and thus their general feeling of security will increase. In an emergency, every moment counts. This line saves lives, while also facilitating work for the emergency bodies.

Mr Nyitrai added: in the government programme high priority is assigned to the improvement of the services provided by the single emergency call network, and the Hungarian Government supports the related plans. After adoption of the relevant decision, in the near future Hungary can bring the 112 network to full completion in its territory. At the end of his welcome speech, the Minister of State expressed his hope that the conference would mark a milestone in the construction of the complete 112 network in Europe.

The participants of the workshop will also visit the Hungarian 112 centre, where they will be advised of handling calls from Hungary, and the work performed by Hungarian network operators.

The single European emergency number is operative in every Member State. The central dispatcher service can be called completely free of charge. The centre identifies the geographical position of the calling party with assistance from the telephone service providers, and GIS software display it on a monitor in order to facilitate and accelerate emergency relief.