The EPP-ED Group is committed to speeding up the process of the application of the new programme 'Safer Internet Plus' from January 2009, which was adopted today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. MEPs want a programme to promote and educate users, parents and children about the safer use of the internet and other communication technologies and to strengthen the fight against illegal content and harmful conduct online. There are 500,000 mages of child pornography provided online each year and another 550,000 images of abuse on some 20,000 children, of whom only 500 have been identified and saved over the past 7 years.

The EPP-ED Group's Spokesman on the report 'Protecting children using the internet and other communication technologies', Mr. Csaba Sógor MEP, is calling for a safer online environment by combating illegal content and countering internet abuse.

"The most important part of the programme is to establish a knowledge base by bringing together researchers engaged in child safety online at European level, and the cooperation between Member States to facilitate information exchange since illegal content can be uploaded in one country and viewed in any other. Raising awareness is a vital part of the programme, which is why 48% of the budget will be used for this purpose. We foresee contact points and hotlines for reporting online illegal content and abusive conduct. In particular, activities should be aimed at creating close cooperation between national authorities, police and contact points to prevent and combat the phenomenon", the EPP-ED Member added.

The new programme provides for €55m in funding for the period 2009-2013, to protect children using the internet and new technologies. It will be based on four main lines of action, including ensuring public awareness. The second task will be to fight illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online. In addition, measures should be taken to protect a safe online environment. Lastly, a knowledge base should be established to encourage cooperation and exchanges of good practice at international level.

According to a Eurobarometer survey, 74% of young people between the ages of 12 and 15 use the internet for at least three hours each day. Virtually all the children interviewed replied that they had been accidentally exposed to pornographic images. The figures in fact show an exponential increase in the number of sites with child pornography material and content that is harmful to children, with the worrying tendency towards a lowering of the age of the children involved and an increase in the levels of violence recorded. Internet Watch Foundation has reported a 16% increase in internet child abuse in the last few years alone.