EU Programme to Fund Safer Use Of Internet and Mobile Phones

10.24.25am GMT Thu 2nd Dec 2004

Liz Lynne MEP with Mary Marsh of NSPCC

A new EU programme to promote Safer Internet use has been agreed after a vote in the European Parliament today. This follows the successful Safer Internet Action Plan which ran from 1998 until this year.

The Programme has provided Community financing to promote safer use of the internet by children throughout the EU.

The new programme called Safer Internet Plus will run from 2005-2008 and will focus for the first time on the use of third generation mobile phones as well as continuing to educate young people about the danger new technology can bring.

Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Liz Lynne who has worked with the NSPCC on this issue in the past welcomed the new programme

The West Midlands MEP said:

"Children all over the EU should have access to the internet so they can learn, play games and chat to people in other countries. However, we must protect children from the risks that come with new technology.

"Safer Internet plus, will have a budget of €50 million over 4-years. The programme will attempt to make the internet safer for children and will build upon EU work under way since 1996 to combat illegal and harmful internet content.

"Encompassing new media, such as videos, and new issues such as "spam", it would bring in accession countries, and focus more closely on educating parents and children.

"It has four action lines: fighting illegal content; tackling unwanted and harmful content; promoting a safer environment, and awareness-raising. It aims to mobilise talent in the public, private and voluntary sectors to prepare hard-hitting safety campaigns."

ENDS