The European Commission coordinates the economic and other activities of its member-states. Its Directorate-General for the Information Society coordinates policy and regulation in ICTs. Its Directorates-General for External Relations and for Development sponsor development projects in different parts of the developing world.

ICT focus:

The Commission has played a major part in deregulating European telecommunications and promoting ICT development and use in Western Europe. It has also been very active in promoting ICT development and deregulation in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly countries in process towards the European regulatory regime for telecommunications known as the acquis communautaire.

Programme activities:

The European Commission has not given priority to ICTs for development. Some projects have been supported in Asia and Latin America, but very little emphasis has been given to ICTs in Africa, the Caribbean or the Pacific - the regions covered by the European Development Fund and in which most Commonwealth countries are located.

The European Development Council of Ministers has commissioned a review of the role which it should play in ICTs for development. This review is being conducted jointly by the three directorates-general cited above.

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm