Connect

DG Connect or Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology helps to harness information & communications technologies in order to create jobs and generate economic growth; to provide better goods and services for all; and to build on the greater empowerment which digital technologies can bring in order to create a better world, now and for future generations.


 * Director General: Madelin Robert

DG Connect since 2012
Robert Madelin becomes 1st CINNA
 * 2015

Roberto Viola is taking over the post as Director General

DDG Zoran Stancic is leaving to become Head of Representation in Ljubljana from beginning of 2016 onwards.


 * Commissioner in charge: Mr Günther H. Oettinger ( Juncker Commission)


 * Commissioner in charge: Ms Neelie Kroes ( Barroso II Commission)

From 01/07/2012 DG was reorganized and changed its name.
 * 2012 - reorganization

DG INFSO
From 1994 to 01.07.2012, DG INFSO or Directorate-General for Information Society and Media was dealing with research, policy and regulation on the areas of information and communication technology and media. Its regulation has cultural, societal and economic objectives, and covers some of the largest economic sectors in Europe, as well as some of the most visible. The DG is however not responsible for some general economic and market issues central to information society policies like intellectual property issues.

From 01.01.2005, DG INFSO or Directorate-General for Information Society and Media was expanded to include Media (formerly under DG Education and Culture).

, 2006 New reorganization following in particular the launch of the e-Europe initiative:
 * 2010
 * Commissioner in charge: Ms Neelie Kroes ( Barroso II Commission)
 * 2008
 * Mr Zangl, Dir. Gen. Deputy leaves the DG INFSO
 * Mrs R.Zobel (Directorate G) is retiring.
 * Anne Bucher was appointed Director of the S, General Affairs.
 * 2007
 * Mr A. Peltomäki was appointed Deputy Managing Director.
 * Mr Libertalis (Directorate R) and Mr de Bruïne (Directorate H) retiring.
 * Mr Dahlsten (Directorate F) leaves the Commission
 * Mr W. Schwarzenbrunner was appointed Director of the S.
 * 2005
 * The MEDIA program is transferred from DG Education and Culture DG INFSO, DG is now called "Information Society and Media."
 * Mr. G. Paulger was appointed director of the new Directorate A, Audiovisual, Media, Internet.
 * The Directorate G becomes C (Mr. De Bruïne, e-Europe) and C (components and systems, Ms. Zobel) becomes G.
 * A new Directorate H is created, responsible for ICT for citizens and businesses, as well as
 * Directorate S, General Affairs, which includes some of the activities of the Directorates R (Resources).
 * S. Binns was appointed Director of the S.
 * End of 2005: Mr Bruïne was transferred to the Directorate C to H and Mrs S S.Binns the Directorate C.
 * 2004
 * Commissioner in charge: Ms Viviane Reding ( Commission Barroso I)
 * FP6.
 * New reorganization:
 * Mr. De Sampaio Nunes (Dir. A) leaves the Commission.
 * Mr De Bruïne is responsible for a new Directorate G, head of e-Europe and policies for the development of the S.I.
 * Mr. J. Da Silva was appointed Director of Directorate D in place of Mr De Bruïne and Mr U.Dahlsten was appointed Director of the F
 * 2003
 * Mr. P. de Sampaio Nunes was appointed Director of the new Directorate A, IS Strategy and eEurope.
 * Mr. Richonnier (Dir. B) leaves the DG INFSO.
 * Former Dir. A (Mr. Langeheine) becomes Dir. B.
 * Mr. Metakides (Directorate E) leaves the Commission, and was replaced by Mr. De Bruïne, at the head of a new Directorate D, Networks and security applications, in Brussels.
 * Directorate D led by Mr Forster Luxembourg becomes the Directorate E.
 * Mr. L. Rodriguez-Rosello is responsible for Acting Dir. F Brussels
 * 2002
 * Mr. Pain is replaced by Dir. General Mr Fabio Colasanti.
 * Mr. H. Forster was appointed Director of Directorate D in Luxembourg.
 * Mr. B.Libertalis was appointed Director of the R in Brussels
 * Mr. B. Langeheine was appointed Director of the A, Telecommunications Policy, in Brussels.
 * 2001
 * Mr P.Zangl was appointed Deputy Managing Director in Brussels.
 * Mr. Argyris (Director A) leaves the DG.
 * 2000
 * Mr. F.de Bruïne, Director of Directorate D in Luxembourg, is transferred to the Directorate F Brussels. Directions R A (Resources) is created, which includes all services staff
 * The name of the DG becomes "Directorate General Information Society" (INFSO)

DG XIII
the DG XIII website

Preceded by Task Force, the DG XIII - Telecommunications, Information Market, and Exploitation of Research was until 31.12.2004 responsible for dealing with issues of telecommunications regulation and standardization. A significant part of its activities was devoted to research in areas where it could provide stimulus and support to Member State research, including coordination, co-operation, standardisation and long-term basic research activities.

For the implementation of the 5th Framework Programme (1999-2003) which provides a single thematic program "Société de l’Information conviviale" the Commission decided to re-transfer to DG XIII Directorate F of DG III. (ex-ESPRIT) becomes Directorate F of DG XIII, M.Metakides.
 * 1998
 * A "Centre d’Activites pour la Société de l’Information" (ISAC/ISPO) is created for the promotion of I.S., under the direction of Mr. J.Wenzel.
 * A new Directorate G is created in Brussels for Information Technologies in wildcard Mr S. Konidaris been acting in this direction.
 * Mr Triana resigned as Senior Adviser.
 * New reorganization: The name of the DG XIII becomes "Information Society: Telecommunications, Markets, Technologies - Innovation and Exploitation of Research.

Ms. R.Zobel Directorate is responsible for this. The 4th Framework Programme for Research (1994-1998) consists of three separate programs research activities in the field of Information Technology:
 * M.Allgeier (Dir B) retires.
 * Mr Richonnier is responsible for the new Directorate B, responsible for systems and services for citizens (applications for health, the disabled, government, environment, transport and tourism), while
 * Directorate C is responsible for New Methods of Work and Electronic Commerce.
 * 1997: Mr. Allgeier was appointed Director of Directorate B, in place of Mr. R.Hueber.
 * 1996: Mr Robert Verrue was appointed Managing Director, following the retirement of Mr. M.Carpentier.
 * 1995 - Change of the management
 * Commissioner responsible: Mr. Bangemann ( Santer)
 * Mr. Eugenio Triana replaces Mr. Majo as Senior Adviser to Mr. Carpentier.
 * Mr Giulio Grata in Luxembourg has been appointed Director in place of Mr. Strub retiring.
 * Mr. R.Hueber also leaves the Commission.
 * 1992-1993
 * Commissioner responsible: Bangemann ( Delors II)
 * 1) ESPRIT / Information Technology
 * 2) ACTS / Advanced Communications (formerly RACE)
 * 3) TAP / Telematics Applications (old programs DELTA, AIM, DRIVE, and other applications: TIDE - Telematics for Disabled and Initatives Elderly, Bibliothèques, Linguistique and so on)

For its implementation, the management of the research program on Information Technology (ESPRIT former Directorate A: Director M.Cadiou is seconded to NATO) is transferred to DG III, Industry, with corresponding budgetary and human resources, and becomes the direction III.F, managed by Mr. G. Metakides


 * New restructuring of DG is now called "Télécommunications, Marché de l’information et Valorisation de la recherche".


 * Mr. Walter De Baker was appointed Senior Advisor to the Director General, with special emphasis on DG internal IT systems.
 * Directorate F is dismissed, and
 * several horizontal services of the former Directorate E M.Hardy are attached to the Director General. M.Hardy retires.
 * Given the growing importance of telecommunications policy, the new Directorate A is called "Télécommunications, postes". Mr N.Argyris is appointed head of this department.
 * Directorate B is responsible for technology and advanced communication services, with Mr R.Hueber
 * A new Directorate C is created, responsible for the development of telematics applications, especially for Administrations, distance education, health, the disabled and elderly, transport. Mr M.Richonnier was appointed Director.
 * Both directions of Luxembourg became the Directorates D and E, without major changes, except for a greater involvement in the project management telematics applications (engineering language and libraries).

Change certain Directors:
 * 1991 - DG activities continue to grow: The numbers reach 1150 units and budget exceeds 1.5 billion.
 * 1990 - Small reorganization
 * Mr. Frans de Bruïne replaces Mr. Jansen Van Rosendael in Luxembourg,
 * Pieter Weltevreden replaces Mr. Schuringa for Telecommunications Policy in Brussels.
 * Juan Majo Cruzate was recruited as Hors Classe Adviser Mr. Carpentier.


 * 1989 - TIDE program
 * Commissioner responsible: Vice President Filippo Maria Pandolfi ( Delors II)

Activities develop, among other things for computer processing of language, library management, and COST Telecom actions, one of which will be at the origings of the program TIDE (Telematic Applications for Disabled and Elderly; known now as eInclusion), and structures are consolidated: the statutory staff totaled 650 units, to manage a budget of 1259 million ECU.

The third PC (89-93) provides the ESPRIT II on information technology, RACE on telecommunications, and application programs.
 * 1988 - New direction (F)

A New Direction, F, is created in Brussels for the RACE program management and other advanced applications programs (AIM, DELTA, DRIVE). Mr. Roland Hüber is the Director.

Restructuring of DG XIII causes suppression of TFTIT and the creation of five Directorates:
 * 1986-1987 reorganization of DG XIII (abolition of the TaskForce)
 * A Direction for the ESPRIT program management with Mr.JM Cadiou in Brussels.
 * Directorates B and C in Luxembourg for management activities of the former DG XIII. (Directors Mrs. Jansen Van Rosendael, Information Market and Albert Strub, Valorisation of research results)
 * Directorate D Telecommunications Policy, with Mr.T. Schuringa, Brussels and
 * E Directorate, General Affairs, headed by Mr. Michael Hardy, for activities to support sectoral activities involving services staff in Brussels but with offices in Luxembourg.

The T.F.T.I.T. remains to Brussels.
 * 1986 - Task Force incorporated into DG XIII
 * The Task Force T.I.T. is incorporated in the DG XIII, Information Market and Innovation, which has two divisions and is headquartered in Luxembourg.
 * The new DG is called "Telecommunications, Information Industries and Innovation."
 * Mr.Michel Carpentier was appointed Managing Director and
 * Mr Vicente Parajon Collada was hired as Deputy Director General, specifically in charge of two departments based in Luxembourg.

1982-1986 Task Force

 * 1985 - added areas of distance education, medical and transport
 * Commissioner responsible: Vice President Karl-Heinz Narjes ( Delors I)

Proposals for Research on the application of new technologies are developed in the fields of distance education, medical and transportation programs which then become DELTA, AIM and DRIVE

The second Framework Programme for Research (85-89) was adopted. It includes, besides the ESPRIT program, the program RACE for Telecommunications. The activities of the Task Force expands and includs now also the telecommunications sector, and a new directorate is created for the development of telecom technologies and telematics, and project management of INSIS and CADDIA. Mr. T. Schuringa is then recruited as Director.
 * 1984 - added telecommunications sector (TFTIT)

The name becomes TFTIT, "Task Force Technologies de l’Information et Télécommunications". Activities in the telecom fields grow both in the research (programe RACE: "Recherche Avancée dans les Communications en Europe") as well as in the telecommunications market policy and standards domains.

The ESPRIT program is launched, and 91 temporary positions are granted to the first part of the program. The Task Force is structured as a Directorate managed by Mr. JM Cadiou. The budget for the program is 750 million ECU for four years. It will be followed by SPIRIT II, with a budget of 1.6 billion.
 * 1983 - launch of the Taskforce


 * 1982 - preparation (JEPE-IT)
 * Commissioner responsible: Vice President Etienne Davignon (Commission Thorn)

A small Task Force is created by the Commission for the preparation and launch of ESPRIT. It is composed of a par of a Directorate of DG Internal Market and Industrial Affairs (DG III), managed by Mr. JM Cadiou, and some civil servants of the DG Research and Development (DG XII), which managed by Mr.Roland Hüber. They had developed the "JEPE-IT "Joint European Exercise Planning for Information Technologies.

About 70 people between A, B and C grades were the team TFTI, Task Force Information Technology. Mr Michel Carpentier, Deputy Director General of DG Energy (DG XVII), is responsible for leading the team.