By Felicity Ussher, 7 February 2000 00:25
NEWS The House of Lords has set up its own public enquiry into ecommerce, just days after the Cabinet Office unveiled its plans to look at forthcoming EU legislation covering online trade. The Lords is looking for IT start-ups to share their views on European Union proposals for regulating electronic commerce. European Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen, is due to publish his final proposal on "e-Europe - an information society for all", at the end of next month. But the Lords' investigation asks whether the EU can even approach the issue in its current form. Patrick Wogan, clerk of the Lords' EU sub-committee on energy, industry and transport, said: "We are concerned that the vertical structure of the European Commission is not suited to an issue as broad and far-reaching as electronic commerce." The lords' call for evidence focuses on whether Liikanen's draft Action Plan is realistic; whether the EU is flexible and coherent enough to achieve its targets; whether the EU's internal structure should be changed; and whether structural change could be fast enough to help ecommerce. Additional questions will ask what is needed to create confidence in ecommerce, and how much actual regulation is required. Wogan is particularly keen to hear from Web start-ups across Europe. "The committee members are here to learn, not to terrify," he said, "We want fresh ideas, and if you have gripes then make them." Interested parties should contact Patrick Wogan on woganp@parliament.uk to schedule an appointment before 29 February.
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