The Commission presents a report setting out the final evaluation of the multi-annual EU programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies -Safer Internet 2009-2013.

The evaluation is based on an external study using data collected through surveys and interviews with project participants and a wider range of stakeholders.

With a budget of EUR 55 million , the Programme co-funded projects in the Member States, Iceland, Norway, Serbia (through a memorandum of understanding) and provided limited funding to Russia for participation in European networking activities. 92% of the budget co-funded projects on:

increasing public awareness in particular among children, parents and teachers about opportunities and risks related to the use of online technologies, and means of staying safe online; fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online, with particular focus on online distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming and cyber-bullying.

Main conclusions : the evaluation shows that the Programme has been successful in achieving its main goals and that EU intervention had been both necessary and effective in the delivery of results.

The Programme co-funded Safer Internet Centres (SIC) in all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Serbia and Russia. SICs carried out activities to raise public awareness; they operated helplines from which children and parents could get support and advice on online related issues. Stakeholders perceive the fact that SICs exist in 27 Member States as the main added value of the programme as this allows the sharing of knowledge and good practice. European Safer Internet activities are often considered good practice internationally, and have been taken up in Latin America, the US and Asia-Pacific. The Safer Internet Day, which stems from the Programme, is an international yearly event to raise awareness of child online safety. The programme was recognised to have been delivered efficiently , although certain procedures were highlighted as presenting scope for simplification. The programme has had a medium to high impact , mainly in raising awareness due to the focus on networking and creation of synergies, and fighting illegal content. The establishment of a system of notice and takedown of sexual abuse material complemented by voluntary efforts from industry to counter distribution of this material through their infrastructure has significantly reduced the time to removal. In 2011, 60% of the reported content was removed within 1 to 3 days compared to over 90% in 2014.

Continuation of most effective activities : in order to keep up and build on the results achieved, the report suggests the following:

continue the work of the SIC awareness centres , by further reinforcing awareness-raising activities, including the dissemination of information and tools for children on safer use of online technologies and continuation of the annual Safer Internet Day; ensure that the SICs reach out to children in disadvantaged or vulnerable situations (such as children with disabilities, children at risk of poverty, children in migration); continue research at EU and national level on children’s behaviour online and the risks they face to keep the knowledge base up to date. The rights-based approach evident in EUKidsOnline should be replicated in future research, with a view to further realising the rights of the child in the online environment; continue the mapping of Safer Internet policies on a regular basis; continue the coordination role of the Commission in future Programmes.

The Commission also recommends:

facilitating the monitoring of impact of projects through a robust monitoring system and regular independent evaluations; continuing communication between all relevant entities and stakeholders in order to share good practices and to ensure that there is no overlap between future initiatives; encouraging industry and Member States’ involvement.

The Commission presents an the interim evaluation of the Safer Internet Programme 2009- 2013, in accordance with Decision No 1351/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

The main objective of the evaluation is to assess the programme concerning relevance, effectiveness and efficiency in addition to broader impacts and sustainability based on evidence from questionnaires, consultations with stakeholders and annual reports.

The main mechanism for implementing the programme is the co-financing of projects selected on the basis of public calls for proposals. This has resulted in a wide range of projects being funded under the various action lines, complemented by non-funded activities as appropriate. The projects aim at creating a safer online environment for young people and the non-funded initiatives range from supporting Safer Internet Day, organizing Safer Internet Forum, promotion and support of industry self-regulation and co-operating at the international level with other relevant organizations.

Evaluation findings : the report states that the evaluation results are positive . They show that the programme has evolved to keep up with the technological and sociological considerations surrounding the safer use of the Internet by minors. It responds well to changing demands in the external environment as evidenced by the current emphasis on social media and cyber-bullying. However, the programme needs to continue to explore new issues and have a long-term strategic vision.

The evaluation results further show that the programme is influential in relation to other national and international activities; literature, research and results from the programme are widely used and quoted. In addition, recommendations from the last programme evaluations have been broadly incorporated into the programme.

The programme was run efficiently. There are good levels of communication between the related EU programmes at policy level. The programme is also effective according to the evaluation. The achievements of the programme concerning the existence of hotlines, helplines and awareness centres in the majority of Member States are highlighted in the evaluation. The evaluation also concludes that the current focus and structure of the programme is appropriate and does not call for significant change in the next period. The support and funding from the programme is crucial for the projects to exist, especially considering the current economic constraints.

Improvements: whilst the overall picture is positive, the evaluation describes the need for certain improvements:

· some stakeholders feel that further work must be done ensure that there is the direct involvement of children;

· the projects call for longer funding periods to ensure better continuity and periods of reflection;

· the programme should keep up to date with technological advances – through market intelligence, knowledge enhancement projects and general knowledge exchange. The programme must also be able to follow the developments in national contexts concerning issues related to legislation. The risk of national budget cuts and subsequent change of priorities implies that there is a need to ensure that national and regional priorities are coherent with European priorities to maximise the effect in the time to come.

Recommendations of evaluators : a number of recommendations have been identified through the interim evaluation in order to further the impact of future initiatives.

Relevance: the Safer Internet Programme should continue its efforts to ensure that it researches and funds the most pertinent activities for the protection of minors on the Internet. The programme should not broaden its objectives but maintain its current objectives. It is recommended to maintain a long-term strategic vision on the programme and its issues. The knowledge base should be improved through creating links with key industry actors, international organisations, content providers and technology producers. Many links from existing stakeholders can be better exploited. Enhancement of children's participation and involvement in the programme should be considered.

Efficiency: this could be improved through longer funding periods for the projects and fewer restrictions on the internal allocation of funds. The paper also suggests implementing the programme jointly with other projects carried out by the Commission. The networks of hotlines, helplines and awareness centres should be further coordinated through joint events and working groups, and the collaboration of INHOPE and INSAFE should be further encouraged. INTERPOL is willing to engage in further cooperation with Safer Internet projects.

Effectiveness: awareness of the work of the Safer Internet Programme should be raised so as to address a potential reduction in national/regional political support. The programme should also look at measures to increase more consistent commitment from the industry and increase debate about legal issues surrounding the protection of minors. In relation to international networking, it is recommended that enlargement countries and Russia/South East Europe are involved in contributing to the evidence base and as receivers of knowledge/best practices from experienced stakeholders. The programme should ensure that the knowledge base is improved through research contributions shaped and informed by the growing level of information already published. The annual reports of the projects should be improved concerning outcomes and impacts. The programme should also ensure that the knowledge reaches further into schools and curricula.

Impact and sustainability : the report considers the following:

· setting up two types of forum: (i) to discuss technology issues arising in relation to the programme and its objectives; and (ii) to discuss relevant legislative issues arising in the individual countries;

· further indicators for measuring the impact of awareness-raising activities must be developed. The programme should also enhance the opportunities for projects funded by different Commission programmes to exchange knowledge and discuss common issues.

The Commission takes full note of the findings and will take the recommendations into account in the activities and strategies of the programme. It invites the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions to take note that the programme has been successfully implemented at mid term and to assist the Commission in its work to increase the visibility of the Programme and stimulate continued dialogue between stakeholders in the field of Internet safety.

PURPOSE: to establish a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (Safer Internet Programme).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 1351/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies.

CONTENT: following an agreement reached with the Parliament at first reading, this Decision establishes a Community programme to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies, particularly for children, and to combat illegal content and harmful conduct online.

To achieve that objective, the programme will focus on practical help for final users. The programme involves four lines of action and defines the activities to be carried out under each of those lines of action:

(1) Ensuring public awareness : the activities will aim to increase public awareness, in particular among children, parents, carers, teachers and educators, about opportunities and risks related to the use of online technologies, and means of staying safe online. They will also address the opportunities and risks of services using new distribution platforms, such as audiovisual services using mobile phone networks. Where appropriate, information packs will be made available in multilingual versions.

(2) Fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online : the activities will aim to reduce the amount of illegal content circulated online and deal adequately with harmful conduct online, with particular focus on online distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming and cyber-bullying.

(3) Promoting a safer online environment : the activities will aim to bring together stakeholders so as to promote a safer online environment and protect children from harmful content.

(4) Establishing a knowledge base : the activities will aim to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. The contents of this knowledge base will be shared with stakeholders and disseminated across Member States.

The Commission shall, by 24 June 2011, report on the implementation of the action lines.

The Programme shall cover a period of five years from 1 January 2009 and the financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme shall be EUR 55 million .

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24/12/2008.

The European Parliament adopted by 672 votes to 9 with 19 abstentions a legislative resolution amending the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (‘Safer Internet’).

The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Roberta ANGELILLI (UEN, IT) on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

The main amendments – adopted at 1st reading of the codecision procedure – are the result of a compromise between the Parliament and the Council. They are as follows:

Objective : the objective of the Programme is to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies, to educate users, particularly children, parents, carers, teachers and educators in this regard and to fight against illegal content and harmful conduct online. . For the purpose of this Decision "children" shall mean persons under 18 years of age, unless the relevant national law confers on them, under certain conditions, full legal capacity under that age.

Priorities : in order to attain the overall aim of the Programme, the following lines of action shall be addressed: a) ensuring public awareness; b) fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online; c) promoting a safer online environment; d) establishing a knowledge base.

New threats : MEPs introduced a certain number of amendments, in particular to insist on the need to combat new worrying phenomena such as the soliciting of children through psychological manipulation for sexual purposes (grooming), electronic harassment and electronic files showing physical and/or psychological aggression) and ensure public awareness of online risks and precautions, as well as to develop pedagogical tools on the basis of sound practices.

Actions and measures proposed in the framework programme ‘Safer Internet plus’ should aim, inter alia:

to provide the public with and promoting the existence of contact points and hotlines for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. These contact points will also provide the public with the necessary information on how to report illegal content and assess the content of on-line information services which could harm the physical, mental or moral integrity of children; to stimulate application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online and informing end-users as to how this technology might be applied; to encourage the design, development or adaptation and/or promotion of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and the fight against harmful conduct online, in particular those tools made available free of charge for easy general use by stakeholders; to encourage development of coordinating links between the Member States’ databases relating to child abuse, and also common approaches and methods of work; to create close cooperation between national authorities, police and contact points. Actions will be taken to build a common European database collecting information on child abuse and to ensure its connection with Europol; to engage domain name registries where this is not the case and strengthening co-operation where it does exist, improving co-operation with domain name registries in Member States and encouraging positive relationships with registries outside the EU to enable earlier detection of potentially illegal content and minimise the longevity of known websites offering child sexual abuse content; to encourage and assist Internet service providers to develop, as a tool of self regulation, " child safe" labelling for web pages. These actions may include, inter alia, exploring the possibility of setting-up a system of common descriptive symbols or warning messages indicating the age category and/or those aspects of the content which have led to a certain age recommendation, which would help users to be more aware of potentially harmful online content; to stimulate the involvement children, ensuring equal participation of girls and boys , with the aim of promoting a safer online environment. This involvement shall be regularly exercised within the framework of activities such as the European Forum on the Rights of the Child, the Safer Internet Forum and others; to increase information , particularly for parents, carers, teachers and educators , about the performance and effectiveness of tools, such as filtering systems, for dealing with potentially harmful content online; to address the opportunities and risks of services using new distribution platforms, such as audiovisual services using mobile phone networks ; to enable children to make responsible use of on-line technologies, in particular through media literacy or media education programmes; to provide contact points where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online, including advice on how to deal with both grooming and cyber-bullying; to analyse statistics and trends from different Member States to allow law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities from Member States to reduce duplication of existing efforts and maximise the use of current and future resources.

Lastly, MEPs propose that expenditure be broken down as follows:

1) ensuring public awareness: 48%;

2) fighting against illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online: 34%;

3) promoting a safer online environment: 10%;

4) establishing a knowledge base: 8%.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Roberta ANGELILLI (UEN, IT) and made several amendments to the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (‘Safer Internet’).

MEPs underline the need to adopt measures at EU level in order to protect the physical, mental and moral integrity of children, which might be impaired by accessing inappropriate content. They claim that particular efforts should be made to explore solutions to prevent intentional proposals, through information and communication technologies, of an adult to meet a child for the purposes of committing sexual abuse or offences, while at the same time special attention should be given to the peer support system. Action should also be aimed at preventing the victimisation of children by threats, harassment and humiliation via the Internet and/or interactive digital technologies, including mobile phones.

The main amendments – adopted at 1st reading of the codecision procedure – aim to strengthen child protection against these threats:

- MEPs introduced a certain number of amendments, in particular to insist on the need to combat new worrying phenomena such as the soliciting of children through psychological manipulation for sexual purposes (grooming), electronic harassment and electronic files showing physical and/or psychological aggression) and ensure public awareness of online risks and precautions, as well as to develop pedagogical tools on the basis of sound practices;

- the actions and measures proposed in the framework programme ‘Safer Internet plus’ should aim, inter alia:

to provide the public with and promoting the existence of contact points and hotlines for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. These contact points will also provide the public with the necessary information on how to report illegal content and assess the content of on-line information services which could harm the physical, mental or moral integrity of children; to adopt a quality label for service providers, so that users can easily check whether or not a given provider subscribes to a code of conduct; to use filters by end-users which would prevent information offending against children’s physical, mental or moral integrity from passing through on-line technologies; to support and promote measures to encourage positive content for children; to explore the effectiveness of tools developed in cooperation with the Internet industry that enable law enforcement agencies to track down criminals on the web; to encourage international sharing of expertise and pooling of ideas between governments, law enforcement agencies, hotlines, banking/financial/credit card institutions, child abuse counselling centres and child welfare organisations and the Internet industry; to create close cooperation between national authorities, police and contact points. Actions will be taken to build a common European database collecting information on child abuse and to ensure its connection with Europol; to improve co-operation with domain name registries in Member States, and to encourage positive relationships with registries outside the EU to enable earlier detection of potentially illegal content and minimise the longevity of known websites offering child sexual abuse content; to encourage and assist Internet service providers to develop, as a tool of self regulation, ‘child safe’ labelling for web pages; to increase information, particularly for parents, carers and educators, about the performance and effectiveness of tools, such as filtering systems, for dealing with potentially harmful content online; to enable children to make responsible use of on-line technologies, in particular through media literacy or media education programmes.

- lastly, MEPs propose that expenditure be broken down as follows:

Ensuring public awareness: 48%; Fighting against illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online: 34%; Promoting a safer online environment: 10%; Establishing a knowledge base: 8%.

OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN DATA PROTECTION SUPERVISOR on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies .

The aforementioned proposal was sent by the Commission to the EDPS for consultation on 4 March 2008, in accordance with Article 28(2) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. This consultation should be explicitly mentioned in the preamble of the decision.

Recall that the new multiannual programme is presented in the continuity of the Safer Internet (1999-2004) and the Safer Internet Plus programmes (2005-2008). Four orientations are defined: (i) reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online; (ii) promoting a safer online environment; (iii) ensuring public awareness; (iv) establishing a knowledge database.

Overall, the EDPS supports the proposal for a multiannual programme to protect children using the Internet and other communication technologies. He welcomes the fact that this programme intends to focus on the development of new technologies and on the elaboration of concrete actions to enhance the effectiveness of the protection of children.

The EDPS recalls that the protection of personal data is an essential prerequisite to the safety of children online. Misuse of children's personal information must be prevented, using the orientations proposed in the programme, and especially the following:

ensuring awareness of children and other stakeholders like parents and educators; promoting the development of best practice by the industry; promoting the development of privacy compliant technological tools; favouring the exchange of good practice and practical experience amongst relevant authorities, including data protection authorities.

These actions should be developed without overlooking the fact that the protection of children takes place within an environment where the rights of others might be at stake. Any initiative of collecting, blocking or reporting information should only be taken in the respect of the fundamental rights of all individuals involved and in compliance with the data protection legal framework. In particular, the EDPS recalls that the surveillance of telecommunication networks, where necessary in specific circumstances, should be the task of law enforcement authorities.

Lastly, the EDPS notes that this programme constitutes a general framework for further concrete actions. He considers that some observations made in this opinion are a first step and could be developed in a practical way, by reference to the projects still to be put in place, in line with the orientations of the programme. He recommends that data protection authorities be closely involved when it comes to the definition of these practical projects.

The Council agreed to the general approach on a decision establishing a multi-annual Community programme on protecting children using the internet and other communication technologies (see Council doc. 9137/08 ). The first reading opinion of the European Parliament is still pending. The Commission made a statement clarifying that, whilst welcoming the general approach, it was not able to amend its proposal formally at this early stage of the procedure.

The proposed programme is a successor to the Safer Internet Plus programme - which expires at the end of this year - that seeks to fund EU level initiatives of real added value in the fight against illegal content and harmful conduct online. The new programme will build on and continue the work of the existing programme with small adjustments and updates to the various action lines. Compared to the Commission's proposal, the text approved by Ministers contains the provision that projects above EUR 500 000 will be assessed under the comitology procedure .

The draft programme is aimed at promoting safer use of the internet and other communication technologies, particularly for children, and fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online. It will focus on practical help for the end-user, particularly children, parents, carers and educators, by encouraging multi-stakeholder partnerships. The programme will be implemented through four general action lines:

• ensuring public awareness;

• fighting against illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online;

• promoting a safer online environment;

• establishing a knowledge base.

The programme will cover a period of five years from 1 January 2009. Its budget is set at EUR 55 million.

PURPOSE: to establish a "Safer Internet" multiannual programme.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: the use of the Internet and communication, or on-line technologies such as mobile phones is still growing considerably. Whilst, on the one hand, this offers a number of opportunities, risks to children and the abuse of the technologies continue to exist. Further, new risks and abuses continue to emerge. In order to encourage the opportunities and positive benefits of the Internet, measures are needed to promote their safer use. In this context, children and adolescents have become familiar users and are often unaware of the risks which they are exposed to and the ways to tackle this issue. Among the risks which they face is the risk of being exposed to child abuse material or being contacted by people who will befriend them in order to commit sexual abuse (grooming), and becoming victims of bullying in the online environment (cyberbullying).

The European Union has been a forerunner in the protection of children online since 1996, and the successive Safer Internet programmes have been a major feature of the Commission’s activity in this field (see COD/2004/0023 ).

Given that the challenges in this area have been further aggravated by the emergence of new technologies and services, the Commission decided to propose a new programme to better protect children from the new risks which they are exposed to. This is the subject of the current proposal.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to establish a Community programme to promote the safe use of the Internet and other communication technologies with a particular emphasis on children as well as to fight illegal content and harmful content on-line. The programme is to be known as the "Safer Internet" programme. It will cover a five year period beginning 1 January 2009 with a proposed budget of EUR 55 million .

In order to realise the stated objectives of the programme, four core actions are proposed namely:

1) Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct on line.

2) Promoting a safer on-line environment.

3) Ensuring public awareness.

4) Establishing a knowledge base.

Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct on line: t he purpose of this action will be to reduce the amount of illegal content circulated online and dealing adequately with harmful conduct online. It will receive 30-35% of the total financing. Particular attention will be given to online distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming and bullying. The main actions planned include, inter alia : providing the public with contact points for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct; tackling harmful conduct online, in particular grooming and bullying; stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online; promoting cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices between stakeholders at national and European level; and enhancing cooperation, exchange of information and experience in fighting online illegal content and harmful conduct at an international level.

Promoting a safer online environment : the purpose of this action will be to bring stakeholders together in a bid to find ways of promoting a safer online environment and protecting children from content that may be harmful. It will receive 5-10% of total financing. The main actions planned include, in summary: enhancing cooperation, exchange of information, experience and best practice between stakeholders; encouraging stakeholders to develop and implement adequate systems of self-regulation; stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment; increasing information about adequate tools for dealing with harmful content online; and ensuring compatibility between the approach taken in Europe and internationally.

Ensuring public awareness : the purpose of this action will be to increase public awareness, particularly amongst children, parents, carers and educators, on opportunities and risks related to the use of online technologies and means of staying safe online. It will receive 45-50% of the total financing. The main actions planned include, in summary: raising public awareness and disseminating information on the safer use of online technologies; providing contact points where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online; encouraging efficient awareness-raising methods and tools; ensuring the exchange of best practices and cross-border cooperation at a European level; and ensuring the exchange of best practice and cooperation at an international level.

Establishing a knowledge base: the purpose of this action will be to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. It will receive 8-15% of total financing. The main actions planned include, in summary: encouraging a coordinated approach concerning investigation in relevant fields; providing updated information concerning children's use of online technologies; promoting investigation on online victimisation of children; promoting investigation on efficient ways to improve safe use of online technologies; and increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people.

Beneficiaries : in presenting this proposal, the Commission is hoping to offer practical help to end-users, particularly children, parents, carers and educators. The programme will seek to involve, and bring together different stakeholders, whose cooperation is essential, but who do not necessarily always come together unless the appropriate structures are in place. Stakeholders include, for example, Internet service providers; mobile network operators; regulators; standards bodies; industry self-regulating bodies and educational, regional and local authorities.

International cooperation : the programme will be open to all legal entities established in the Member States; legal entities in the EFTA and EEA countries; entities established in accession and candidate countries; those established in the Western Balkans and the European neighbourhood countries; entities established in a third country being a party to an international agreement with the Community; and other international organisation.

Implementation : the programme will be implemented by the Commission. In order to ensure that Community aid is used efficiently, the Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, follow-up and subsequent evaluation.

Reports : the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the programme by two and a half years from the date of publication in the Official Journal, and the Commission shall submit a final evaluation report at the end of the programme.

PURPOSE: to establish a "Safer Internet" multiannual programme.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: the use of the Internet and communication, or on-line technologies such as mobile phones is still growing considerably. Whilst, on the one hand, this offers a number of opportunities, risks to children and the abuse of the technologies continue to exist. Further, new risks and abuses continue to emerge. In order to encourage the opportunities and positive benefits of the Internet, measures are needed to promote their safer use. In this context, children and adolescents have become familiar users and are often unaware of the risks which they are exposed to and the ways to tackle this issue. Among the risks which they face is the risk of being exposed to child abuse material or being contacted by people who will befriend them in order to commit sexual abuse (grooming), and becoming victims of bullying in the online environment (cyberbullying).

The European Union has been a forerunner in the protection of children online since 1996, and the successive Safer Internet programmes have been a major feature of the Commission’s activity in this field (see COD/2004/0023 ).

Given that the challenges in this area have been further aggravated by the emergence of new technologies and services, the Commission decided to propose a new programme to better protect children from the new risks which they are exposed to. This is the subject of the current proposal.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to establish a Community programme to promote the safe use of the Internet and other communication technologies with a particular emphasis on children as well as to fight illegal content and harmful content on-line. The programme is to be known as the "Safer Internet" programme. It will cover a five year period beginning 1 January 2009 with a proposed budget of EUR 55 million .

In order to realise the stated objectives of the programme, four core actions are proposed namely:

1) Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct on line.

2) Promoting a safer on-line environment.

3) Ensuring public awareness.

4) Establishing a knowledge base.

Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct on line: t he purpose of this action will be to reduce the amount of illegal content circulated online and dealing adequately with harmful conduct online. It will receive 30-35% of the total financing. Particular attention will be given to online distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming and bullying. The main actions planned include, inter alia : providing the public with contact points for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct; tackling harmful conduct online, in particular grooming and bullying; stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online; promoting cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices between stakeholders at national and European level; and enhancing cooperation, exchange of information and experience in fighting online illegal content and harmful conduct at an international level.

Promoting a safer online environment : the purpose of this action will be to bring stakeholders together in a bid to find ways of promoting a safer online environment and protecting children from content that may be harmful. It will receive 5-10% of total financing. The main actions planned include, in summary: enhancing cooperation, exchange of information, experience and best practice between stakeholders; encouraging stakeholders to develop and implement adequate systems of self-regulation; stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment; increasing information about adequate tools for dealing with harmful content online; and ensuring compatibility between the approach taken in Europe and internationally.

Ensuring public awareness : the purpose of this action will be to increase public awareness, particularly amongst children, parents, carers and educators, on opportunities and risks related to the use of online technologies and means of staying safe online. It will receive 45-50% of the total financing. The main actions planned include, in summary: raising public awareness and disseminating information on the safer use of online technologies; providing contact points where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online; encouraging efficient awareness-raising methods and tools; ensuring the exchange of best practices and cross-border cooperation at a European level; and ensuring the exchange of best practice and cooperation at an international level.

Establishing a knowledge base: the purpose of this action will be to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. It will receive 8-15% of total financing. The main actions planned include, in summary: encouraging a coordinated approach concerning investigation in relevant fields; providing updated information concerning children's use of online technologies; promoting investigation on online victimisation of children; promoting investigation on efficient ways to improve safe use of online technologies; and increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people.

Beneficiaries : in presenting this proposal, the Commission is hoping to offer practical help to end-users, particularly children, parents, carers and educators. The programme will seek to involve, and bring together different stakeholders, whose cooperation is essential, but who do not necessarily always come together unless the appropriate structures are in place. Stakeholders include, for example, Internet service providers; mobile network operators; regulators; standards bodies; industry self-regulating bodies and educational, regional and local authorities.

International cooperation : the programme will be open to all legal entities established in the Member States; legal entities in the EFTA and EEA countries; entities established in accession and candidate countries; those established in the Western Balkans and the European neighbourhood countries; entities established in a third country being a party to an international agreement with the Community; and other international organisation.

Implementation : the programme will be implemented by the Commission. In order to ensure that Community aid is used efficiently, the Commission shall ensure that actions under this Decision are subject to prior appraisal, follow-up and subsequent evaluation.

Reports : the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the programme by two and a half years from the date of publication in the Official Journal, and the Commission shall submit a final evaluation report at the end of the programme.