K.T. zu Guttenberg, CSIS, No Disconnect Strategy

Former German defense minister Karl Theodor von und zu Guttenberg serves as a lobbyist for the CSIS, a Think Tank in the United States. Today EU-Commissioner Neelie Kroes launched an initiative with him to help net dissidents abroad. Let me quote from the press release:

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg will liaise with Member States, third countries and NGOs which are committed to work in this area and advise on how to advance the strategy in a co-ordinated and effective manner.

The “No Disconnect strategy” will assist people in four ways:

Developing and providing technological tools to enhance privacy and security of people living in non-democratic regimes when using ICT.

Educating and raising awareness of activists about the opportunities and risks of ICT. In particular assisting activists to make best use of tools such as social networks and blogs while raising awareness of surveillance risks when communicating via ICT.

Gathering high quality intelligence about what is happening “on the ground” in order to monitor the level of surveillance and censorship at a given time, in a given place.

Cooperation. Developing a practical way to ensure that all stakeholders can share information on their activity and promote multilateral action and building cross-regional cooperation to protect human rights.

The heated press conference (on video) indicates how her choice completely distracts from the substance of her proposal. Media coverage in Germany was pretty strong as the controversial former minister still polarises the public in the aftermath of his phd forgery scandal (which led to his regrettable resignation).

For his role Mr. zu Guttenberg just receives travel compensation from the EU which leads us to question what special role CSIS takes in the project. According to Kroes spokesperson Ryan Heath CSIS is not officially behind the project, however, it was listed as zu Guttenberg’s affiliation at the European Commission press conference. Zu Guttenberg emphasized to be based in the United States, and insisted his participation was no “return” to Europe.

CSIS not yet listed in the EU lobby register. When I expressed regret to colleagues that funding sources are undisclosed I gladly received the CSIS report from 2009.

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High Level Event on ICT for Energy Efficiency 2010

An EU Commission event second edition of the High Level event on ICT for Energy Efficiency will take place

February 23rd/24th 2010 in

Charlemagne Building
170 Rue de la Loi (Wetstraat)
BE-1049 Brussels, Belgium

gathering policy makers and experts on the ICT for Energy Efficiency field. Registration is required but free.

Following up on the ICT4EE 2009 High Level Event which aimed to accord visibility to the potential of ICTs in enabling energy efficiency, this  event aims to become a vehicle to drive progress in the transition to an energy-efficient and low-carbon economy following the terms of the “Recommendation C(2009) 7604” adopted by the European Commission on October 9th 2009 [1], see also “Mobilising Information and Communication Technologies to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, low-carbon economy”, European Commission Communication – COM(2009) 111 – Brussels, 12.3.2009

Through the Recommendation, the Commission calls on the ICT sector to agree on common methodologies for measuring energy consumption and carbon emissions by 2010.

And actually the conference provides a small contribution to the reduction of emissions:  Webstreaming will be provided, so you do not have to be there just to watch the speeches of the programme.

[1]

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European Council for open satellite technologies

Council Resolution on “The Contribution of space to innovation and competitiveness in the context of the European Economic Recovery Plan, and further steps” as adopted by the Competitiveness Council meeting on 29 May 2009.

…HIGHLIGHTS the potential of satellite communications technologies to bring broadband to European citizens and enterprises, ensuring a better access to modern ICT particularly in rural and remote areas6, in the context of the European broadband strategy called for by the European Council of 19-20 March; CALLS on the Commission, ESA and the EU and ESA Member States to consider integrating satellite technologies in future broadband projects with a view to support the implementation of the EERP, while respecting the principles of open competition, technology neutrality, and open and neutral internet architecture; and further RECOGNISES the need to explore innovative approaches and architectures for the provision of global satellite communications services in response to institutional demand in support of European programmes and policies, including transport, energy and security;

http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/09/st10/st10500.en09.pdf

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