The occasion will be an afternoon discussion with European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes, UK State Secretary Maria Miller and other prominent speakers, and the launch of Digital Business First, a campaign aimed at putting digital issues at the top of the political agenda.

EIF will host this event jointly with UK-based Digital Policy Alliance (DPA) in London.

• Programme (UK time) - 13th March 2013

  15:15 - Registration

  15:45 - Welcome and introduction by Co-chairman:

  Lord Erroll, DPA Chair

  15:50 - Presentation of Digital Business First background document

  ‘High-speed Broadband for all of Britain: The infrastructure priority for jobs and growth’ by:

  - Peter Linton, Managing Director, Burson-Marsteller Brussels and Advisor to EIF Board of Governors
  - Matthew Copeland, independent advisor on telecommunications networks and technologies

  Comments by:
  - Alex Pratt, Buckinghamshire Business First
  - Frank Nigriello, Oxfordshire Business First

  Key Note Speeches:

  16:10 - Maria Miller, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
  16:20 - Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe

  16:30 - Exchange of views with participants

  Contributions

  (session chaired by Co-chairman James Elles MEP)
  17.00 - Peter Olson, President, Digital Europe
  17.05 - Tim Davie, Acting BBC Director-General
  

  17:10 - Further exchange of views with participants

  17.45 - Final comments by:

  Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe

  17:50 - The Next Steps:

  - Lord Erroll, DPA Chair
  - James Elles, MEP and EIF Governor

  Refreshments will be served in the room from 18.00 to 19.30