E-PING!

12.00.00am GMT Mon 13th Dec 1999

Diana Wallis, MEP has announced the establishment of a new initiative to enhance understanding of the online world among Members of the European Parliament.

Going beyond the "Intergroup" concept, Ms Wallis is creating E-PING! a forum where all interested groups can openly discuss and exchange points of view with Euro-MPs.

"I want to see these issues being discussed outside the context of organised meetings thus giving more opportunity to have open and balanced exchanges," said Ms Wallis who is the European Liberal Group's Spokesperson for the EP's Legal Affairs & Internal Market Committee.

"All internet issues will be up for discussion. E-PING! will be an inclusive forum, not exclusive as some have become."

The idea has already been met with a great deal of enthusiasm among politicians and interest groups. Ms Wallis is preparing the European Parliament's report on changes in jurisidiction on the Brussels Convention which has far-reaching implications for global e-commerce. She has just come back from a working trip to Washington DC where she met with high-level US State Department officials, agencies, lawyers, consumer organisations, together with international communications & computer companies.

They are all looking to the European Union to set the world standards on current issues in particular jurisdiction on e-commerce, data protection & digital signatures. They fully intend to actively participate in E-PING! and Telecoms Commissioner Liikanen has also expressed his interest.

The first meeting of E-PING! is scheduled for Wednesday, 19th January in Strasbourg from 2-3.30 pm. Please check our website for further information. www.eping.org