National representatives present eSafety activities

Date: 30 November 2005

The Observers Group of the EC-supported eScope project is made up of national eSafety experts and industry representatives. At the 21 November meeting in Brussels, around 20 experts from 13 different countries participated to discuss the progress of eSafety deployment and research in Europe. Representatives from Luxemburg and Spain participated for the first time in this meeting.

The eScope Project Coordinator, Jacob Bangsgaard welcomed and informed the participants about the ongoing activities of the eScope Project. Emilio Davila-Gonzalez from the European Commission, presented an update on the eSafety initiative, which included the following topics: the outcome of the eSafety High Level Meeting (18 October 2005), update on FP 6 Call 4, the 2nd eSafety Communication, eSafety Forum Working Groups and the i2010 Intelligent Car initiative.

A large number of presentations were made on national eSafety activities for demonstration projects, deployment, and research, showing that there are a number of important on-going actions throughout Europe. It also indicated that information on these activities should continue to be shared throughout Europe to ensure that Member State authorities and industries cooperate regarding know-how on both positive and negative experiences. Representatives from the Netherlands, Sweden, Czech Republic, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Romania and Hungary presented the development and current status of eSafety activities in their respective country.

Finland has published a comprehensive study on eCall implementation and its cost-benefit. A summary in English is already available at www.ecall.fi and a full translation will be uploaded soon.

Jacob Bangsgaard from ERTICO mapped the future activities of eScope. The eScope project is planning to continue its activities in January 2006 with a larger budget in order to support further campaigns and activities. An independent secretariat is planned to provide administrative support to the eSafety Forum activities. Main objectives for the secretariat include strengthening the connection to national representatives and conducting broader national dissemination of eSafety technologies. Mr Bangsgaard also presented the issue of eSafety user awareness, a topic of great importance in the future to support deployment of eSafety applications.

The next eScope Observer meeting will take place in April/May 2006.

Among the participants were representatives from Luxembourg and Spain attending the eScope meeting for the first time.

Emilio Davila Gonzalez presenting the European Commission’s views.

For more information, please visit the eScope website or contact ERTICO Director of External Affairs and Communications Jacob Bangsgaard.