Watson signs up in .EU web address 'land-rush'

6.20.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 7th Apr 2006

Graham Watson, Lib Dem MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, was amongst thousands of European citizens applying for the new EU web address this morning. Speaking after applying for his own .EU net name, Graham welcomed the news that any EU citizen can now get their own European Union website address:

"South West and Gibraltar businesses can now promote themselves across Europe, safe in the knowledge they and their consumers are protected by EU e-commerce rules. The .EU web address brings added value by increasing consumer confidence and promoting the European Union 'brand'. These two letters are the key to unlocking the opportunities the Single Market offers."

It was predicted that up to half a million .eu address applications would be made today alone. The .eu web name is expected to become second in importance only to the US .com, generating high profiles on the web for all its users.

The EU institutions' entire web site (Europe's largest single site), and all their officials' e-mail addresses, will be switched over to .eu on 9 May, Europe Day. Old and new addresses will continue to work side-by-side for at least one year, after which only .eu names will be used.