Update July 2000: Bulgaria

After some vacuum with the Government reshuffle at the end of 1999 a new Co-ordination Council on Information Society at the Council of Ministers was established (May 9, 2000). The role of the Council is strategic for the implementation of the National Programme for IS development. A number of important IS promotional activities were held during the period April - June 2000. The programme of the events underlying the growing influence of the Internet media and Internet services in the sector. Another important feature of the IS development in the country is the good co-operation between the Governmental bodies, the private businesses as well as representatives of customer organisations in development of the sector. The general public media is quite sensitive to the IS development with the growing impact of computer technologies and Internet in everyday life. The mass media is also quite alert about all events in the field. The public pressure and mass media played a major role in the last year decision of the Bulgarian Government not to license individual Internet providers. Nevertheless, it should be underlined that the Ministry of Transport and Communications has organised or co-sponsored a number of public meetings and debates on IS development.

The ESIS II project was presented by a representative of ISPO and by a representative of the Bulgarian ESIS II team at the Information Days on Programme "IS Technologies – V Framework Programme of EU" – 2-8 June 2000, Sofia. These presentations have increased the awareness of the public about the ESIS II project and the interest in the public administration and private enterprises forwards. The event works on a new momentum in the realisation of ESIS II in Bulgaria.

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