Commission proposes registry to run ".eu" domain

The European Commission today adopted a proposal to create a registry to run the Internet top level domain ".eu". This proposal is a crucial step towards the creation of the ".eu" top level domain on the Internet since the proposed registry will be the body that will run the domain in practice. The Commission is also in regular contact with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) so that the creation of the ".eu" code on the Internet can become a reality once the registry is in place.

Erkki Liikanen, Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and Information Society said, "today's proposal brings Europe one step closer to making the "dot EU" top level domain a reality. Whilst national extension codes will continue to exist, the "dot EU" top level domain will provide Europe's companies the additional possibility of identifying themselves as European or pan-European companies on the Internet. The creation of dot EU will also open up for the possibility of registering more names on the Internet and will thus boost internet use and e-commerce in Europe in line with the objectives of the Commission's eEurope Action Plan."

The Commission and the private sector interests concerned have been working on the preparation of this proposal for the past year. In February 2000 the Commission launched a public consultation⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾, in July 2000 a report on the public consultation was published⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ and in October 2000, the Internet EC-Panel of Participants published an advisory report that sets out alternative scenarios for the implementation of the Registry proposal⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾.

The legal base of the proposal is Article 156 of the Treaty covering Trans European Networks. The Internet in Europe has already become a network that is an indispensable platform for electronic communications within and between the Member States and world-wide. The Commission believes that the ".eu" Registry could provide to Internet users in the Community an enhanced degree of identity and facility for registration of names that would strengthen the future development of the Internet and of electronic commerce in Europe.

The Commission's proposal would create the legal framework for the new Registry and for the development of the necessary public policy measures for the operation of the Registry. In particular the Commission would be responsible for developing and adopting policies regarding speculative and abusive registration of names and alternative dispute resolution procedures. Such policies would be adopted after consulting the Member States through an Advisory Committee and consulting the Registry itself.

Other aspects of the Registry's policies could be proposed by the Registry itself, after appropriate consultation of the interested parties and the Commission. These would include the detailed technical specifications for the Registry's operations and the specifics of the registration policy dealing with such matters as which second level domains (SLD) should be introduced, and how they should be used, such as: ".press.eu", ".ngo.eu", ".media.eu", "project.eu", ".lex.eu", ".event.eu", etc. For example, the European Institutions could use an exclusive SLD for all the European Union official addresses and web-pages, such as: ".union.eu".⁽⁷⁾

The Commission encourages the European Parliament and the Council to act on this proposal quickly so that the Commission can designate the future Registry as early as possible. Meanwhile, the Commission will continue to prepare the practical implementation of the proposal in co-operation with private sector expertise so that they Registry can become operational as soon as possible. The Commission is also in regular contact with ICANN so that the definitive delegation of the ".eu" code can intervene promptly when all other necessary elements are in place.⁽⁸⁾

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^{(2) HYPERLINK http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/eif/InternetPoliciesSite/DotEU/WorkDocEN.html http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/eif/InternetPoliciesSite/DotEU/WorkDocEN.html}

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^{(4) HYPERLINK http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/eif/InternetPoliciesSite/DotEUMay2000/EN.html http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/eif/InternetPoliciesSite/DotEUMay2000/EN.html}

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^{(6) HYPERLINK http://www.ec-pop.org/1009prop/index.htm http://www.ec-pop.org/1009prop/index.htm}

^{(7) These examples of possible second level domains in the Dot EU Registry are illustrative only. Initial decisions will be taken in this area early next year.}

^{(8) Following the request from the Commission in July 2000, the ICANN Board adopted a Resolution on 25 September 2000 that would permit the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneva) code EU to be delegated to the European Community, subject to appropriate contractual agreements. See: http://www.icann.org/minutes/prelim-report-25sep00.htm}