DRAFT Annual Work Programme 2006

As stated in the EBLIDA Strategy 2004 – 2007, EBLIDA’s main mission is to promote and defend the interests of the library, archive and information sectors and professionals working for the people living in Europe, by:

§         Lobbying at European level

§         Encouraging and supporting national organizations lobbying at national level

[See also EBLIDA Working Groups]

EC Review of the acquis communautaire on Copyright & Related Rights

The European Commission issued on 19 July 2004 a Staff Working Document in which it states its intention to review the EC legal framework on Copyright and related rights. This includes certain parts of the following Directives: the Software Directive (91/250/EC), the Rental Right Directive (92/100/EEC), the Term of Protection Directive (93/98/EEC) and the Database Directive (96/9/EC).

EBLIDA prepared and submitted a Position Paper to the European Commission. EBLIDA will also participate in several EC consultation meetings on Copyright and related rights and monitor the development of the EC future policy and/or legislative proposals on this regards.

Reference: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/copyright/review/consultation_en.htm

Directive on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

EBLIDA will continue to monitor the implementation of the Directive 2004/48/EC of the EP and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (OJ EC L 157 of 30 April 2004), eventually approved on March 2004 and which transposition should be fulfilled in two years time.

References:

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_157/l_15720040430en00450086.pdf

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_195/l_19520040602en00160025.pdf

EBLIDA will also monitor progress of the second ‘enforcement’ Directive and will lobby as appropriate [Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Proposal for a COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION to strengthen the criminal law framework to combat intellectual property offences (COM(2005)0276 of 12 July 2005)

Reference: http://www.europa.eu.int/prelex/detail_dossier_real.cfm?CL=en&DosId=193131

European Union Copyright Directive

EBLIDA will continue monitoring progress of national implementation of the Directive in the EU Member States, including the new member countries and the implications related to the EC Review abovementioned. 

    Digital Rights Management Systems and Technical Protection Measures

Following its previous actions on the DRM field, the EC created in 2004 a High Level Group (HLG) on Digital Rights Management (COM(2004)0061 of 3 February 2004) which held its two first meetings on 31 March and 8 July 2004. EBLIDA submitted a Position Paper to the EC in September 2004, in response to the consultation launched on the basis of the HLG on DRM Final Report (July 2004). EBLIDA will continue monitoring the outcome of the discussions of the HLG and participate as appropriate.   

References: http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/2005/all_about/digital_rights_man/index_en.htm

http://www.eblida.org/position/HLGDRM_FinalReport_May-July04.htm

    Database Directive

Further to certain provisions that will be tackled under the abovementioned EC Review, the EC issued a Report on the Database Directive [DG INTERNAL MARKET AND SERVICES WORKING PAPER - First evaluation of Directive 96/9/EC on the legal protection of databases]. The EBLIDA response to the consultation was issued on 9 March 2006.

Reference: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/copyright/docs/databases/evaluation_report_en.pdf

PLR Directive

The so-called Rental Directive will be revised under the EC Review of the Copyright legislation. EBLIDA will also continue monitoring the national implementation of this Directive and progress on the actions taken by the EC against certain EU member States on this regards taking into account the situation in new EU countries too.

Reference: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/copyright/rental-right/rental-right_en.htm

    Data Retention

The Council adopted on 21 February 2006 a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on data retention (Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the retention of data processed in connection with the provision of public electronic communication services and amending Directive 2002/58/EC {SEC(2005) 1131}, COM(2005)0438 of 21 September 2005) which may have effects on some libraries. EBLIDA will keep an eye on its possible implications.

Reference: http://www.europarl.eu.int/oeil/file.jsp?id=5275032

European Commission Consultation on Scientific Publications

The EC published on 31 March 2006 a study on the economic and technical evolution of the scientific publication markets in Europe. The study focuses on the future of printed scientific reviews, the risks associated with increases in the price of publications in terms of access to information for researchers, open access to research findings for all and the need to reconcile authors’ rights and the economic interests of publishers. Libraries are mentioned abundantly. EBLIDA will work on a response in collaboration with SPARC Europe and LIBER.

Reference: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/414&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Professional Education

[See also EBLIDA Working Groups]

Proposal for a Directive on the recognition of Professional Qualifications

EBLIDA will study the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications of 7 September 2005 (OJ L 255 of 30 September 2005, p. 22), especially its Article 15, in view of developing a Common Platform for the library and archive sector. Progress and developments in this area, e.g. exploring Certidoc for LIS Professions, will be discussed and monitored within the EBLIDA Working Group on Professional Education (PEG).

Reference: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/qualifications/future_en.htm

An issue of mutual interest and study with EUCLID could be the report European Curriculum Reflections on Library and Information Science Education, (edited by Leif Kajberg and Leif Lørring, 2005)

Trade Agreements

EBLIDA in cooperation with its IFLA colleagues will continue to be pro-active in representing European library and archive views to the European Commission and the World Trade Organisation on the GATS negotiations. EBLIDA will also follow closely, within its Trade Agreements and Libraries Group the development and implications of the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market.

Reference: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/services/index_en.htm  

Lifelong learning

EBLIDA will remain active in promoting library and archive views to the European Union Institutions on lifelong learning. The EBLIDA Working Group on Professional Education will also monitor this issue.

Creative Industries

EBLIDA promotes the role of libraries and archives as centres of culture and learning in the knowledge society, including European policies on cultural heritage. EBLIDA will monitor the development of the EC creative industries’ support programmes and ongoing discussions at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

WIPO, World Intellectual Property Organization

EBLIDA, together with its international IFLA colleagues, will continue to asses the development of the issues dealt with by the World Intellectual Property Organisation Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights (SCCR) and the need for action in this forum.

IFLA

EBLIDA will continue cooperation with IFLA on issues relevant to libraries and archives which have a European and International impact e.g. WTO, WIPO & the World Summit on the Information Society, avoiding duplication of efforts. EBLIDA will work on a Memorandum of Understanding with IFLA and make use of its IFLA membership when appropriate.

ICA

EBLIDA will cooperate with ICA on archive-related matters and asses the possibility to join ICA as a member of its Professional Associations’ section and continue to work in establishing closer cooperation with Archive organisations.

EUCLID

EBLIDA will asses the kind of cooperation to establish with the European Association for Education and Research in Library and Information Science (EUCLID). The Professional Education Group is the access point for exploring mutual interests.

Right holders

EBLIDA will continue participating in discussion forums with right holders and editors, such as the Frankfurt Group, on relevant issues in order to ensure that libraries and archives have an active role in the information chain in Europe.

EBLIDA Strategy

The EBLIDA Strategy based on its programme 2004 – 2007 will be reviewed by the new Executive Committee members, resulting from the elections in May 2005, and by the Council. This will take place in 2007 after an introduction period of the new director.

First version: February 2006

Second version: April 2006