European Parliament resolution on the Next Generation Internet: the need for an EU research initiative (2000/2102(INI))
Date: 2001-05-03
Institutions: Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament
Subjects: EU research policy, Internet, information technology, new technology, research and development, scientific cooperation, technological change, transmission network

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6.
Recommends the creation, where possible, of special funds intended to cushion demographic shocks
to the public pensions system; insists that the demographic challenges be assessed and recognised in the
stability and convergence programmes, and also taken into account in the (cid:145)Lisbon strategy(cid:146);

Approves of the switch of increased funds towards public investment, especially in such areas as
information and frontier technologies, etc., where

7.
education and training,
there has been past neglect and where there is potential for investment in human resources;

life-long learning, research,

Considers that both private and public investments are needed to achieve high ambitions for the
8.
Trans-European technology, telecommunication and transportation networks, to support the strategic
goal of Europe becoming home to the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the
first decade of the 21st Century;

9. Warmly welcomes Greece(cid:146)s first stability programme, and calls upon Greece to continue the efforts it
has made towards public sector reforms, budgetary discipline and debt reduction;

10.
Condemns the Commission(cid:146)s continued failure to make available to the appropriate committee in
Parliament the detailed technical evaluations it makes of each programme in preparation of the Council(cid:146)s
deliberations, together with its detailed macro-economic forecasts prepared for the same discussions;

11.
Reiterates its call for a more harmonised timetabling of submission of the programmes by the
Member States in order to improve comparability; calls furthermore in this context for a full and timely
involvement of the European Parliament;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the govern-

12.
ments and parliaments of the Member States.

14. Next Generation Internet

A5-0116/2001

European Parliament resolution on the Next Generation Internet: the need for an EU research
initiative (2000/2102(INI))

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to Decision No 182/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
22 December 1998 concerning the fifth framework programme of the European Community for
research, technological development and demonstration activities (1998 to 2002) (1),

(cid:129) having regard to its resolution of 18 May 2000 (2) on the communication from the Commission to the
Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions (cid:145)Towards a European Research Area(cid:146) (COM(2000) 6 (cid:129) C5-0115/2000 (cid:129) 2000/2075(COS)),

(cid:129) having regard to the conclusions of the Feira European Council meeting of 19 and 20 June 2000, (SN

200/1/2000),

(cid:129) having regard to its resolution of 16 March 2000 (3) on the Commission communication on (cid:145)eEurope
(cid:129) An Information Society For All: a Commission Initiative for the Special European Council of Lis-
bon, 23 and 24 March 2000(cid:146) (COM(1999) 687 (cid:129) C5-0063/2000 (cid:129) 2000/2034(COS)),

(cid:129) having regard to Rule 163 of its Rules of Procedure,

(cid:129) having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy

(A5-0116/2001),

(1) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 59, 23.2.2001, p. 250.
(3) OJ C 377, 29.12.2000, p. 380.

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A. whereas the strategic importance of Internet development to the European economy and society, and
the potential need for the EU to play a stronger role in developing the base technologies to support
the next generation of Internet evolution, is widely acknowledged,

Thursday 3 May 2001

B. whereas Internet development is important for the countries currently preparing for accession,

C. whereas there is a very strong need for Europe to accelerate the development of its electronic com-
munication infrastructure, and to expand the use of mobile, as well as fixed, Internet-based appli-
cations throughout the public and private sectors,

D. whereas there is a great need to enhance the creation of interoperable infrastructures for m-commerce,
where (cid:145)m(cid:146) stands for multimodality, addressing the use of various communications channels and
multiple types of access devices to the networks, both for businesses and individuals,

E. whereas the Commission is now considering its allocation for IST in its proposal for the sixth frame-

work programme for research,

F. whereas all areas of electronic communication technology and applications, including those that might
operate outside the public (cid:145)Internet(cid:146) should be evaluated, taking into account the future segmentation
of the market and the expansion of dedicated communication networks, alongside the public network
infrastructure,

G. whereas the EU should focus attention on medium and long-term technology scenarios, and consider
the potential areas where (cid:145)pre-competitive(cid:146) research would be desirable from the perspective of public
interest and the EU(cid:146)s competitive position,

H. whereas in such a fast moving area it should be noted that the majority of the research will be funded
by the marketplace, although there is scope for public investment (particularly in partnership with
industry) for areas of technological risk and uncertainty,

I. whereas public sector research should be supported because they address distinctive public interest
issues, which may not be covered by commercial funding or where the independent perspective of a
public body is desirable,

1.
Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give an EU research initiative on the next-gener-
ation Internet and new communications infrastructure (and associated electronic communications) a high
priority in the sixth framework research strategy;

2.
Emphasises that EU and Member State resources should focus on (cid:145)pre-competitive(cid:146) projects, with the
objective of ensuring a powerful EU presence in the global development of next generation internet and
new communications infrastructure, reinforcing the EU(cid:146)s role in Internet governance, especially on tech-
nical matters;

3.
Emphasises the importance of the support the Union has a duty to give developing countries so that
they are better represented in the body that manages the Internet and in order to combat the digital divide;

4.
Supports strongly the strategy for encouraging (cid:145)Centres of Excellence(cid:146) in the Commissions(cid:146) proposals
for a European Research Area, as already set out in its resolution of 15 February 2001 on the communi-
cation from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of the Regions (cid:129) Making a reality of the European Research Area: Guidelines for EU
research activities (2002-2006) (COM(2000) 612 (cid:129) C5-0738/2000 (cid:129) 2000/2334(COS)) (1); considers that
Electronic Communications must become one of these (cid:145)Centres(cid:146);

(1)

(cid:145)Texts Adopted(cid:146), Item 12.

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5.
Commends the Commission on its existing strategy for developing broadband infrastructure capabil-
ity, but notes that robust research plans are needed to exploit this capability. Such initiatives may include:

(cid:129) integrating the G(cid:201)ANT initiative with the work of the European Investment Bank, Structural Funds,

other Community instruments and the work of Member States,

(cid:129) consolidating and developing the G(cid:201)ANT infrastructure, and coordinating available resources to

ensure that it fulfils its potential;

(cid:129) using globally competitive testbeds for research and development on new Internet technologies, pro-

ducts and services;

(cid:129) creating the necessary conditions for value-added services within such networks;

6.
Emphasises the Commission(cid:146)s task of overseeing the rapid creation of a superfast trans-European
research network with a capacity of 100 gigabits/second, without which it will not be possible for a
competitive, dynamic and knowledge-based economy to become a reality; calls on the Commission to be
more ambitious when implementing the G(cid:201)ANT project;

7.
Reaffirms that all EU research initiatives on the next generation Internet and new communications
infrastructure must complement, not substitute for, market-driven research; supports the concept of part-
nership research ventures with the private sector, where appropriate, but stresses that the sector is evolving
so fast that great care must be taken to ensure measures are technology-neutral;

Notes that technical and scientific activities should be coordinated with the broader political and

8.
social issues encompassed in the e-Europe strategy, backed by research where appropriate;

Considers that the following key areas of the Internet(cid:146)s evolution should be factored, inter alia, into

9.
any research strategy:

(cid:129) the availability of abundant, low-cost, expanded high bandwidth infrastructure to which access is on

equitable terms;

(cid:129) a requirement for a significant improvement in the quality of Internet delivery (its speed, reliability,
and security), and its (cid:145)value added(cid:146) potential (e.g. collecting payment, handling customised require-
ments);

(cid:129) an increase in the number of remote device connections, operating automatically, without user inter-

vention (e.g. connecting baby monitors, domestic appliances, automobiles);

(cid:129) a large escalation in the amount of wireless communications;

(cid:129) the emergence of many dedicated service channels (i.e. the conventional (cid:145)Internet(cid:146) will become just one

service among many);

10.
Urges the EU to promote research and coordinated development efforts, inter alia, within the fol-
lowing areas of exploitation of electronic communications infrastructure with high capacity, always-on
connections and high mobility:

(cid:129) interoperability and open architectures;

(cid:129) the effective use of the capacity offered by expanded bandwith opportunities;

(cid:129) the optimum types of software and hardware to be used, leading to potential new standards;

(cid:129) the further development of photonics technology for the communications infrastructure, particularly

to relieve the potential bottleneck in switching and routing;

(cid:129) the new architectural framework of a very high capacity Internet;

(cid:129) how a high capacity backbone network will interface with the mobile infrastructure;

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(cid:129) how content delivery, availability and security will be managed;

(cid:129) how information search and retrieval can be facilitated;

(cid:129) a distributed Domain Name Server route-service under the control of separate commercial entities;

11.
Stresses that e-participation and e-accessibility must be paramount in the research and development
initiatives that are to make the Internet accessible to all; considers that international cooperation to provide
standards and guidelines for easy access for those with special needs, such as the disabled and elderly,
should be developed (WAI (cid:129) Web Accessibility Initiative);

Notes that a key issue for the future evolution of the Internet, which must continue to be, addressed

12.
by EU research initiatives, is data and system security, especially resistance to malicious attack;

13.

Urges the EU to promote research into the following areas:

(cid:129) Peer-to-peer models and open-source content;

(cid:129) means of protecting device generated data, including the need for discreet data (cid:145)encapsulation(cid:146) to avoid

unauthorised consolidation of private information;

(cid:129) a consistent legal framework in the area of Internet security which, inter alia, provides for a more

coherent and trustworthy encryption policy within the EU;

(cid:129) solutions to the growing privacy issues from (cid:145)infinite store and search capability(cid:146);

(cid:129) the concepts for an evolved Internet infrastructure with well-developed, in-built security mechanisms,
which would enhance content protection and system integrity from external attack, especially in the
case of mobile systems using wireless links;

(cid:129) open-source encryption systems in the area of security;

(cid:129) possible health risks associated with electro-magnetic radiation, and the optimum means of minimis-

ing consumer risk as usage expands;

Notes the importance of developing technologies that will facilitate the expansion of wireless com-

14.
merce, and therefore supports research into the following areas:

(cid:129) the evolution of mobile phones into (cid:145)purses(cid:146), which will greatly facilitate (cid:145)electronic money(cid:146) purchases

of goods and services, including secure interface technologies such as optical wireless links;

(cid:129) the use of mobile phones as a mean of identification which could provide the security systems in

many organisations;

(cid:129) the concepts for a sales tax collection infrastructure across Member States, so as to facilitate wireless

commerce and avoid (cid:145)double taxation(cid:146);

(cid:129) much enhanced security for the wireless transmission of highly confidential records, such as financial

and health information, noting the potential benefits of emergency access to health records;

15.

Urges that research into the development of alternative web-browsers be promoted;

Notes that enhanced backbone networks give the potential to stream a large number of Real Time

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Digital TV services, both public and private;

Recognises that the potential to stream broadcasts to fixed and mobile Internet users offers high

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potential for EU technology leadership;

Believes that transmission selection and charging systems must be considered a high priority for

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pre-competitive research and development;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission and to the govern-

19.
ments and parliaments of the Member States.