Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy
The Chairman
Mr. Patrick Cox
President of the European Parliament
Subject: Motion for a resolution on the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) (B5-0394/2003), tabled by Marco Cappato pursuant to Rule 48 of the Rules of Procedure
Dear Mr Chairman,
At the session of 4 September 2003 the President of Parliament announced that he had referred the motion for a resolution on the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) (B5-0394/2003), tabled by Mr Marco Cappato pursuant to Rule 48 of the Rules of Procedure, to the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy as the committee responsible.
At its meeting of 22 September 2003, the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy decided to deliver an opinion in the form of a letter on the motion for a resolution, pursuant to Rule 48(2) of the Rules of Procedure.
At its meeting of 4 November 2003, it adopted the draft letter.
The World Summit on the Information Society is to hold its first session in Geneva from 10?12 December 2003, with a second session to be held in Tunis in 2005.
The Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy has examined the draft resolution and adopted the following conclusions.
The Commission has produced a Communication, Towards a Global Partnership in the Information Society: EU Perspective in the Context of the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (COM(2003) 271 final).
The initiative to establish a World Summit is warmly welcomed, and recognises the crucial role that information technology can play in attaining a more peaceful, just and prosperous world.
The European Union, through the European Commission and the Member States, is encouraged to become a very active participant and, where appropriate, to make resources available to support the Summit's planned goals.
The Commission Communication to the European institutions (COM(2003) 171) is warmly welcomed, and its orientations on the desired outcome of the Summit and the EU's position are endorsed.
The Committee welcomes the opportunity presented by the Summit to broaden the debate on information technology issues, and to reinforce the core principles that underpin an open, inclusive, sustainable and peaceful information society. The right of access to information is one of the fundamental pillars for the creation of a free and equitable society. The broad sharing and dissemination of information and knowledge is the key to the mutual understanding of values in our world.
Accordingly, the European Union is asked to support the inclusion in the declaration and plan of action of the following:
- the right of freedom of opinion and expression, right of access to information and the right of communication, with explicit condemnation of the negation of these rights;
- the promotion of rules and policies for free competition in ICT service delivery, drawing on the EU's experience in developing trustworthy, transparent, and non discriminatory legal and regulatory models;
- the promotion of both e-democracy projects for the right of access to public documentation on the Internet - guaranteeing, whenever technically feasible, the availability of publications (Internet sites and books) in digital text format - and safeguards for the active use of the Internet in supporting civil and political rights;
- the evolution of a global framework for intellectual property protection, balancing the access to content by users and the interests of content providers in gaining returns for their creative input;
- the encouragement of a global climate of cyber-security, giving confidence to citizens, businesses and civil society, ensuring maximum freedom of access while ensuring that citizens concerns for personal data protection and privacy are respected;
- the evolution of global co-operation and security mechanisms to tackle cyber-crime, illegal and harmful content, particularly the exploitation of women and children;
- intellectual property systems complying with Article 27 of the Declaration of Human Rights which balance authors' rights and those of right holders in order to guarantee universal participation in cultural life, enjoyment of the arts and scientific discoveries.
The Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy welcomes the United Nations' desire to hold a tripartite summit, with the innovative feature that for the first time states, the private sector and civil society are to work closely together on its organisation.
The Committee supports the priorities given to capacity building; underlines the contribution that information technology can make to improving education and training; endorses the potential of ICT for global exchanges of information; underlines the need to develop digital literacy as a key condition for bridging the 'digital divide'.
The Committee endorses the potential for e-commerce in stimulating global economic development; supports co-operation in research and development and the development of an enhanced high capacity research network based on the experience of the GEANT programme; encourages governments to develop legal frameworks that encourage cross border e-commerce, while providing appropriate consumer safeguards.
The Committee emphasises the role of ICT in the achievement of the UN Millennium Development goals; supports the priority given to e-Health as an EU response.
The Committee requests the Commission and the Member States to support an Action Plan that is realistic, deliverable to a planned timetable and focused on a limited set of objectives.
The EU is also asked to take all requisite political and diplomatic initiatives to ensure that:
- the second session of the World Summit on the Information Society - that is going to take place in Tunis in November 2005 - is held in a climate that respects fundamental principles written down in this letter.
I therefore ask you, Mr Chairman, to forward this opinion in the form of a letter to the Council and the Commission.
Yours sincerely,
Luis Berenguer Fuster |
Entschließungsantrag von Herrn Marco Cappato, eingereicht gemäß Artikel 48 der Geschäftsordnung des Europäischen Parlaments, zum Weltgipfel der Vereinten Nationen über die Informationsgesellschaft (WSIS)
Propuesta de resolución de Marco Cappato, presentada de conformidad con el artículo 48 del Reglamento, sobre la Cumbre Mundial de las Naciones Unidas sobre la Sociedad de la Información (B5-0394/2003)
Proposition de résolution déposée conformément à l'article 48 du règlement, par Marco Cappato sur le Sommet mondial des Nations unies sur la société de l'information (SMSI) – B5-0394/2003
proposta di risoluzione dell'on. Marco Cappato depositata conformemente all'articolo 48 del regolamento del Parlamento europeo sul Vertice delle Nazioni Unite sulla Società dell'informazione (WSIS) - B5-0394/2003