Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Towards A Global Partnership In The Information Society: EU perspective in the context of the United Nations world summit on the information society (WSIS) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-05-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: access to education, action programme, information society, information technology, post-industrial economy, prospective technological studies, summit meeting, technological change

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 19.5.2003
COM(2003) 271 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Towards A Global Partnership In The Information Society:

EU Perspective In The Context Of The
United Nations World Summit On The Information Society (WSIS)

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Towards A Global Partnership In The Information Society:

EU Perspective In The Context Of The
United Nations World Summit On The Information Society (WSIS)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. 

INTRODUCTION

The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva
in  December  2003  and  in  Tunisia  in  November  2005  is  the  single  most  important  political
event in this area since the term Information Society was coined by the European Union in the
mid-Nineties. Its aim is “to develop a common vision and understanding of the Information
Society and to draw up a strategic plan of action for concerted development towards realising
this vision”.1 It takes place at a time when there is world-wide recognition that society at large
is changing - and will continue to do so - as a result of the fast-paced changes of information
and communications technology, thereby driving economic, social and cultural changes to an
extent never before thought possible.

These important changes have already been addressed in various other international forums,
such  as  the  G8  through  the  Okinawa  Charter,  the  UN  debates  and  in  particular  through  the
creation of the Digital Opportunity Task Force or the UN ICT Task Force. Other initiatives,
e.g.  by the World Economic  Forum  or the Global Business Dialogue on  e-Commerce,  have
been launched in the private sector.

The  EU  vision  of  the  Information  Society,  as  expressed  through  its  comprehensive  set  of
policies developed over the last decade, has attracted world-wide attention. At its meeting in
Lisbon in 2000, the European Council committed itself to the development of a knowledge-
based economy.  This  has  not  gone  unnoticed.  Most  countries  are  rethinking  their  economic
and  social  policy  approaches  and  have  expressed  their  interest  in  the  EU  approach,  in
particular with regard to eEurope, the new electronic communications regulatory framework,
research  and  technological  development  policy,  and  EU  policies  in  the  social,  economic,
educational and cultural sectors as well as trade and development.

During  the  preparatory  process  for  the  Summit,  many  countries  have  expressed  their
expectations  that  the  European  Union  should  play  a  major  role,  in  particular  in  providing
insight  into  its  Information  Society  policies,  sharing  its  experiences  and  undertaking  a
commitment  to  assist  developing  countries  and  emerging  economies  in  this  field.  The  EU
ought to respond positively to meet these  expectations and offer to share its approaches and
also to learn from the experience of its partners world-wide.

1 

Resolution 56/183 adopted by the UN General Assembly in January 2002

2

                                                
This Communication aims to assist in:

(cid:1)  Clarifying the context by setting out the main objectives of the WSIS and identifying the

key issues for the EU, thereby allowing the EU to adopt a position in order to:

(cid:1)  Preparing  the  co-ordination  of  EU  contributions  to  and  positions  on  the  preparatory

process and the Summit;

(cid:1)  Proposing orientations to the Council and the European Parliament to prepare conclusions
that  will  form  the  basis  for  the  EU  position  during  the  negotiations  on  the  WSIS
Declaration and Plan of Action.

2. 

THE PREPARATORY PROCESS OF THE WSIS

The  Summit  was  initiated  by  a  resolution2  of  the  International  Telecommunications  Union
(ITU) in 1998 and further endorsed by a resolution3 of the United Nations General Assembly
in January 2002. The latter calls for active participation in and an effective contribution to the
Summit  and  its  preparation  by  all  the  relevant  United  Nations  and  intergovernmental
organisations,  including  international  and  regional  institutions,  as  well  as  non-governmental
organisations, civil society and the private sector. The Summit will take place in two phases:
the first hosted by the Swiss Government in Geneva in December 2003 and the second hosted
by  the  Tunisian  Government  in  Tunis  in  November  2005.  This  Communication  will  focus
primarily on preparations for the first phase of the WSIS, namely the Summit in Geneva.

As usual with UN Summits, the WSIS preparatory process encompasses a regional track with
conferences on all continents and several preparatory committees. Four regional conferences
have been held (Bamako, Bucharest, Tokyo, Punta Cana), each adopting a declaration setting
out  the  main  political  interests  and  objectives  as  regards  the  Information  Society  of  the
continent  concerned.  The  Commission  has  provided  financial  support  to  the  regional
conferences  of  Bamako  and  Punta  Cana,  for  African  and  Latin  American  countries
respectively,  in  order  to  assist  these  regions  in  their  preparatory  processes.  The  regional
conferences have fed substance into the preparatory committees.

The  Preparatory  Committee  (PrepCom)  meetings  are  the  main  events  where  substantive
discussions  on  the  preparation  of  the  WSIS  take  place  between  stakeholders:  governments,
private sector, civil societies. The first and second PrepCom meetings were held in July 2002
and  February  2003  respectively,  with  the  third  and  last  scheduled  for  September  2003.  The
last period of the preparatory process will focus on negotiating a Political Declaration and a
Plan of Action for approval and adoption by Heads of State and Government at the Summit in
Geneva from 10-12 December 2003.

The  preparatory  process  is  rather  complex,  not  only  because  of  the  broad  range  of  topics
covered by the term “Information Society”, but also because of the many different interests of
governments, the private sector, civil societies and international organisations that participate
in the process.  Moreover,  the participation of  civil society  and  the  private  sector,  for  which
the prevailing rules in the UN system are still evolving, has caused procedural difficulties.

2 
3 

Resolution 73 adopted during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Minneapolis, 1998.
Resolution 56/183  adopted by the UN General Assembly in January 2002.

3

                                                
The development of the  Information  Society  raises concerns  in  some  parts  of  the  world.  Its
cultural and social impact, particularly in terms of access to information and transparency as
well as the empowerment of minorities or political opposition, worries some governments. In
addition,  some  developing  countries  consider  that  the  underlying  economic  model  is
favourable  to  industrialised  economies  and  they  intend  to  link  the  adoption  of  economic
openness in this field to trade negotiations.

3. 

THE CHALLENGES OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY AND THE EU APPROACH

This  section  outlines  the  challenges  raised  by  the  Information  Society.  They  concern  both
industrialised  countries  and  developing  ones  as  well  as  the  nature  and  quality  of  relations
between  them.  In  this  context,  the  EU  approach  and  experience  are  briefly  presented  as  a
reference for the proposed EU positions.

3.1. 

Challenges for the Summit

The Information Society is an  ever-increasing reality. There  are many  concrete  examples of
this in our daily life. But the changes are not just about technology: they are far-reaching and
global, implying new ways of communication, new economic and social structures and new
ways of governance. The economy is increasingly becoming a knowledge-based activity. Like
an evolutionary process, the emergence of the Information Society is the product of an array
of different forces whose potential can be either exploited or missed.

The  challenges  lie  in  the  development  of  a  shared  vision  of  the  Information  Society  and  a
common  understanding  of  both  the  role  of  the  individuals  and  nations  therein  and  the
governance structures that will emerge. There is thus a need to address issues that have taken
on an extra dimension with the diffusion of the Information Society.

At the same time, the development of the Information Society is still hampered by technical
and regulatory obstacles and other barriers, which must be removed if its full potential is to be
grasped, whilst at the same time ensuring that appropriate regulation taking into account the
needs  of  the  Information  Society  and  its  citizens  is  maintained.  The  increasingly  global
Information  Society  also  raises  issues  that  –  due  to  their  cross-border  nature  –  are  in  the
interest of countries world-wide, such as security or global governance.

The digital  divide  will  be  a  central  theme  of  the  Summit.  The  diffusion  of  Information  and
Communication  Technologies  (ICTs)  implies  both  challenges  and  promises  for  social  and
economic development. This is nowhere more apparent than in the world's poorest countries.
ICTs  offer  considerable  opportunities  for  decreasing  social  and  economic  inequalities  and
supporting sustainable local wealth creation, thus helping to achieve the broader development
goals.  But  if  not  properly  developed,  the  Information  Society  might  result  in  further
marginalisation of the poor and disaffected, thus adding a digital dimension to existing gaps
and exacerbating such gaps in and amongst developing countries as well as in industrialised
ones.

3.2. 

The EU Approach

At  the  Lisbon  European  Council,  the  EU  confirmed  the  Information  Society  as  one  of  its
political  priorities  and  spelt  out  its  objective:  to  make  the  Union  the  most  competitive  and
dynamic  knowledge-based  economy  in  the  world  capable  of  sustainable  economic  growth
with  more  and  better  jobs  and  greater  social  cohesion.  The  set  of  policies  and  actions
constitute a capital of experience that the EU is willing to share.

4

The  European  Union  launched  the  eEurope  initiative  in  2000  as  the  main  driver  for
achieving  the  Lisbon  goals.4  The  objective  of  this  initiative  was  ambitious:  to  bring  every
citizen,  school  and  business  online,  and  to  exploit  the  potential  of  the  new  economy  for
growth,  employment  and  inclusion.  The  recent  eEurope  2005  Action  Plan  (endorsed  at  the
Seville  European Council in 2002, covering  the period  2003-5) takes a  further  step  towards
the  development  and  use  of  a  world-class  infrastructure  that  can  deliver  modernised  public
services.  It  focuses  on  the  use  of  ICTs  to  make  public  services  more  productive  and
accessible,  to  produce  a  favourable  environment  for  e-Business  and  to  secure  a  broadband
information  infrastructure,  including  in  remote  or  less  populated  areas  and  it  promotes  a
multi-platform approach aimed at using all the available platforms (e.g. PCs, mobile phones,
digital TVs) to broaden access to the Information Society.

This  is  complemented  by  the  new  regulatory  framework  for  electronic  communications5,
which will bring benefits  to consumers, businesses  and  all  other  stakeholders  by  ensuring  a
competitive environment for the delivery of electronic communications services, stimulating
investment, innovation, creating scope for price reductions, and increasing consumer choices.
The new framework will speed up the transition to a knowledge-driven economy, providing
clear  and  stable  rules  and  improving  certainty  for  investors.  Furthermore,  the  EU  aims  to
increase investment in Research and Development and technological innovation to 3% of
GDP  by  2010.  6  In  addition to  these new  instruments, a  variety  of  existing  EC  policies  and
actions contribute to the development of the European model of information society, and are
relevant  in  this  context,  notably  in  the  fields  of  copyright,  e-Business,  data  protection,
transparency etc.

Numerous  partner  countries  have  shown  their  interest  in  the  EU  approach.7  Several  have
taken  the  eEurope  initiative  as  a  reference  for  developing  their  own  actions.  Policy  and
regulatory dialogues between the Union and its partners have been established, which find a
natural extension in the implementation of co-operation programmes. This is the case with the
EU’s partner countries in Asia,8 Latin America9 and the Mediterranean.10

These  co-operation  programmes  include  demonstration  projects  in  the  fields  of  education,
health, local  governance and,  more  generally, "digital inclusion".  Complementary initiatives
aim  to  strengthen  research  and  stakeholder  networks  between  the  EU  and  its  partners.  The
experience gained in the Community, in co-operation with the emerging countries, could find
an  extension  in  the  dialogue  with  the  signatory  countries  of  the  Cotonou  Agreement,  as
recommended by the EU-ACP Council.

4 
5 
6 

7  

8 

9 
10 

http://www.europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/index_en.htm
http://www.europa.eu.int/information_society/topics/telecoms/index_en.htm
Communication  of  the  Commission  “Investing  in  Research:  an  Action  Plan  for  Europe”  COM(226)
2003, April 2003
For example, EU accession countries have adopted an eEurope+ Action Plan, inspired by eEurope, and
the  Northern  European  countries  have  developed  a  comparable  strategy.  Also,  South-East  Asia  and
emerging economies like Brazil, Mexico and Morocco have adopted e-Strategies.
ASIA  IT&C  has  worked  together  with  Asian  developing  countries  since  1999,  supporting  projects  in
fields such as agriculture, teaching, health, transport, tourism and electronic trade.
"@LIS" (Alliance for the Information Society) launched in 2002 in Seville.
“New  Approach for Telecommunications Policies" (NATP) and a programme  for  the  development  of
the Information Society (EUMEDIS)

5

                                                
4. 

EU PRIORITIES FOR THE WSIS POLITICAL DECLARATION AND PLAN OF ACTION

Draft  documents  for  the  Political  Declaration  and  the  Plan  of  Action  to  be  endorsed  by  the
Summit were released on 21 March 2003. These are still far from final versions and will be
further  refined  at  an  open-ended  intergovernmental  drafting  meeting  in  July  2003.
Nevertheless,  the  structure  of  these  documents  was  formally  agreed  upon  during  the
preparatory process and will be taken as a basis for the preparation of this Communication.

The Political Declaration and the Plan of Action to be adopted by the Summit have the same
structure. This causes a certain amount of overlapping between the two texts. For reasons of
clarity,  both  documents  are  taken  into  consideration  simultaneously  in  this  section.  EU
orientations  are  formulated  separately  and,  where  appropriate,  suggestions  for  the  Plan  of
Action are made.

4.1. 

General considerations on the Declaration and the Plan of Action

4.1.1.  Objective and vision for the Political Declaration

For the EU, the Political Declaration should aim to:

(cid:1)  agree  on  a  vision,  which  could  provide  a  sound  basis  for  an  appropriate  framework  at

global level and a reference for regional and national policies and actions;

(cid:1) 

formulate  key  principles,  which  could  form  the  basis  for  agreement  on  the  main  issues
raised by the global Information Society;

(cid:1)  deliver  a  political  message,  inviting  every  country  and  all  individuals  to  seize  the

opportunity represented by the Information Society.

Furthermore,  the  development  of  an  open,  inclusive,  sustainable  and  peaceful  Information
Society  has  to  build  on  a  core  set  of  principles  which  are  fundamental  for  a  democratic
society.  These  principles  are  not  primarily  addressed  in  the  Information  Society  debates.
Nevertheless,  the  EU  takes  the  view  that,  in  conformity  with  its  fundamental  texts,11  the
following principles need to be solemnly upheld and extended within the Information Society:
(cid:1)  The right of freedom of opinion and expression in accordance with the provisions of the

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

(cid:1)  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  the  world  and  peaceful,
sustainable  development  of  societies.  At  the  same  time,  due  account  must  be  given  to
property rights, including intellectual property.

(cid:1)  The  right  to  education,  which  is  enshrined,  inter  alia,  in  the  Universal  Declaration  of
Human  Rights  and  the  International  Covenant  on  Civil  and  Political  Rights  and  other
instruments, as essential for the eradication of poverty, and the elimination of all forms of
discrimination; in the information society a specific effort on digital literacy is required.

11 

The EU Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Council of Europe

6

                                                
(cid:1)  The  promotion  and  preservation  of  cultural  diversity,  as  enshrined  in  the  UNESCO
Universal  Declaration  on  cultural  diversity12  and  defined  as  the  freedom  of  expression,
media  pluralism,  and  the  possibility  for  all  cultures  to  have  access  to  the  means  of
expression and dissemination, as well as the necessity of intercultural exchanges.

(cid:1)  The  promotion  of  peace  and  human  dignity  through  the  use  of  ICTs,  and  in  particular
through  a  commitment  to  build  better  democracy  based  on  a  higher  degree  of
transparency,  enhanced  participation  and  good  governance  at  national  and  local  levels;
upholding the rights of the individual, particularly in relation to capacity building  of  the
individual, data protection and security.

(cid:1)  The  development  of  the  Information  Society  with  an  ethical  dimension  referring  to  a
cyberspace subject to universally held ethical values, such as truth, justice, solidarity and
shared responsibility.

4.1.2.  Objective and characteristics of the Plan of Action

The  Plan  of  Action  aims  to  implement  the  common  vision  and  understanding  of  the
Information  Society,  as  laid  down  in  the  Political  Declaration.  For  the  EU,  therefore,  it
should:

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

identify priorities to make the Political Declaration a reality;

identify  concrete  and  tangible  goals,  allowing  the  potential  of  ICTs  to  be  harnessed  for
sustainable  economic  and  social  development,  particularly  in  the  field  of  poverty
alleviation  and  combating  illiteracy  in  all  countries  of  the  world,  and  supporting  the
achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals;

(cid:1)  constitute a common reference for the contributions of all stakeholders, thus providing an

agreed frame for coherent and cumulative actions and synergies;

(cid:1) 

include clear indications in terms of follow-up, monitoring procedures and methods.

In this context, the EU believes that the Plan of Action should take account of the following
guidelines as it is drawn up:

(cid:1)  The Plan of Action should focus on a limited number of core political priorities and reflect
a clear global consensus, in order to mobilise political support and reach a critical mass in
terms  of  actions.  These  should  be  integrated  into  policy  and  programme  formulation  at
both national and international levels.

(cid:1)  For this purpose, advantage should be taken of the multiple achievements and the mass of
experience available. The Plan of Action must therefore build explicitly on the results of
existing  experience  and  knowledge  and  provide  for  systematic  use  of  experience  and
know-how sharing.

(cid:1)  A  key  factor  in  making  the  Plan  of  Action  a  reality  is  the  effective  mobilisation  of  all
stakeholders, governments, civil society and the private sector, together with a method to
allow the various players to make effective contributions. In other words, a definition of

12 

adopted on November 2001.

7

                                                
shared goals and the establishment of a common basis to start from are needed in order to
ensure synergy and consistency between the initiatives undertaken by the various players.

(cid:1)  A  clear  indication  is  needed  on  how  commitments  will  be  followed  up,  by  providing  a
roadmap for action and a basis for evaluation of the Summit accomplishments over time.
In addition, the EU's experience shows that it is of strategic importance to use as much as
possible harmonised indicators and a common metric for the assessment of progress and
for benchmarking exercises between countries and regions.

4.2. 

Key principles as outlined in the preparatory process

A  number  of  principles,  which  both  the  Political  Declaration  and  the  Plan  of  Action  build
upon, have been agreed during the preparatory process. This section gives a brief description
of these principles and formulates proposals for an EU position.

4.2.1.  Enabling  environment,  development  of  infrastructure  and  access,  overcoming

barriers

In  EU  policies,  these  various  issues  are  closely  related  and  addressed  within  the  context  of
eEurope.  This  includes  in  particular  the  need  for  legal  and  regulatory  frameworks  which
foster investment, promote the take-up of electronic communications services by the public at
large,  promote  openness  and  interoperability  and  create  an  enabling  environment  for  the
development  of  information  infrastructure  and  services  through  adequate  research  and
innovation policies.

An  enabling  environment  also  includes  stimulating  measures  designed  to  have  a  “prime
pumping” effect on the development of new services and applications. This could give rise to
innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors.

The  challenge  is  to  combine  the  mobilisation  of  markets  forces  with  the  necessary  leading
role  of  governments  for  appropriate  frameworks  and  stimulation  and  the  solidarity
mechanism. Developing countries would benefit from establishing appropriate regulatory and
policy frameworks, including in particular areas affecting consumers, whose  confidence and
trust in communications services is a precondition for the integration of developing countries
into the international ICT market through better and cheaper access to information technology
and communication by increased trade and investment from the private sector, whether local
or  foreign.  Furthermore,  countries  should  be  encouraged  to  join  the  ITA  agreement  on
information 
regulate  basic
telecommunications.

liberalise  and  pro-competitively 

technology  goods  and 

Proposed EU position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To support the development of regional and national e-Strategies as a key element of the

WSIS Political Declaration.

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To  promote  the  development  and  implementation  of  trustworthy,  transparent  and  non-

discriminatory legal and regulatory frameworks for electronic communications;

(cid:1)  To support technical assistance for e-Strategies and to establish the appropriate regulatory

frameworks;

8

(cid:1)  In the context of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), encourage countries to join the
ITA  agreement  on  information  technology  goods  and  commit  to  liberalisation  and  pro-
competitive regulation of basic telecommunications.

4.2.2.  Role of governments, civil society and private sector

The  successful  deployment  of  a  global  Information  Society  depends  greatly  on  the
commitment  and  association  of  all stakeholders.  The  EU  has  done  this  when  developing  its
own policies. Therefore, the EU has taken a firm stance and promoted the full association of
the private sector and civil society in the preparatory process leading up to the Summit itself.
In  particular,  the  Plan  of  Action  should  reflect  this  approach  by  a  combination  of
governmental,  including  international  governmental  organisations,  actions  and  partnerships
involving the various stakeholders.

The diffusion of the Information Society depends to a large extent on the way local authorities
act  out  their  role  as  the  first  level  of  interaction  between  the  citizen  and  public  realm.  This
crucial role of local authorities should be recognised in the World Summit and a specific role
should be mapped out for them in the Plan of Action.

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To ensure that all stakeholders can participate directly in the negotiations on the Plan of

Action and undertake clear commitments in the follow-up process.

(cid:1)  To  support  stakeholder  initiatives,  notably  the  Summit  of  the  Cities  to  be  held  in  Lyon

(France) on 4-5 December.

4.2.3.  Capacity building

With  regard  to  capacity  building,  the  EU  will  focus  on  two  priorities  for  the  Summit:  e-
Learning and e-Government, while emphasising the necessity to also build capacity through
shared  research  and  technological  development  and  encouraging  training  and  mobility
actions.13

A key factor to enable progress towards the Information Society is the development of human
capital. E-Learning facilitates access to learning resources and services, as well as world wide
exchanges and collaboration. It is a powerful tool for personal development, for bridging the
digital divide, and for fostering local content and linguistic and cultural diversity. E-Learning
also  offers  improved  conditions  for  lifelong  learning,  reaching  people  outside  the  formal
education process and fostering continuing professional development. E-Learning can support
– coupled with traditional didactical methods - the development of the cognitive and digital
skills allowing both access to - and use of - knowledge for individually and socially relevant
purposes.  Widespread  diffusion  of  digital  literacy  -  together  with  universal  access  to  ICT
infrastructure - represents in fact a key condition for bridging the digital divide.

e-Government  should  concentrate  on  more  efficient  delivery  of  public  services  and  better
management of financial, human and public resources and goods at all levels of government,

13 

Decision N°1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the
sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and
demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation
(2002 to 2006)

9

                                                
in  particular  at  local  level,  under  conditions  of  sustainability,  participation,  interoperability,
increased effectiveness and transparency. Citizens and businesses must be the  focal point in
the design of online services that are readily accessible to all.

Proposed EU position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To provide broad political support for “investing in people”, paving the way for a world-

wide movement of co-operation in the field;

(cid:1)  To promote the participation of both women and the young in the process;

(cid:1)  To extend the benefit of ICTs to help foster inclusion and empowerment of minorities and

disadvantaged groups.

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To launch a global co-operation initiative in the field of e-Government and e-Learning.

4.2.4.  Building confidence and security

Security,  privacy  protection,  property  protection  and  general  governance  of  the  sector  are
indispensable  for  the  purposes  of  building  people’s  confidence  in  the  Information  Society.
This is particularly relevant in terms of consumer concerns regarding of loss of privacy, unfair
or  illegal  commercial  practices  as  well  as  in  relation  to  illegal  and  harmful  content  and  the
protection of minors. On-line piracy is another issues of concern to businesses and consumers
alike.  The  security  of  networks  has  emerged  as  one  of  the  critical  issues  for  the  continued
growth of electronic  commerce  and  the use  of  new  technologies  more  generally.  Therefore,
more effort has to be made to achieve greater reliability of the systems and applications which
store and transmit data.

Within  a  global  culture  of  cyber  security  it  is  important  to  strike  the  right  balance  between
measures to enhance security and the need to ensure the protection of data and privacy as well
as to avoid the creation of new barriers to trade. At the same time, the objective is to make
cyberspace  an “area  of freedom,  security and justice”.  In this  context,  an  adverse  impact  of
the digital revolution on gender equality – such as for example ICT and media based violence
against women, including criminal misuse of ICT for sexual harassment, sexual exploitation
and trafficking in women and  girls - should be avoided and  fought against by  any available
means.

Communication  networks  are  global,  and  security  issues  highlight  the  need  both  for  closer
international co-operation and for a common approach. Although many initiatives need some
adjustment  to  local  environments,  it  is  clear  that  international  co-operation  should  be  more
widespread.

To  improve  the  overall  security  of  networks  and  information  systems  in  the  EU,  the
Commission  has  recently  adopted  a  proposal  to  establish  a  European  Network  and
Information Security Agency, which should become a centre of excellence for cyber security
matters.  This  model  could  be  linked  to  other  initiatives  internationally,  thus  enhancing
international co-operation.

10

Proposed EU position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To  strike  the  right  balance  between  security  objectives,  trust,  protection  of  data  and

privacy;

(cid:1)  To avoid the creation of additional trade barriers or excessive burdens in the sector;

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To invite each country to set up a focal point for security matters and to develop an open

co-operative network between them.

4.2.5. 

ICT applications for Development

The EU will support and use ICTs not as a priority sector, but rather as a tool to achieve the
objectives within the focal areas and cross-cutting themes of the new EC development policy.
ICTs are not to be considered in isolation, but as part  and parcel of  an  overall  development
strategy  and  policy  dialogue  with  beneficiary  countries.14  e-Inclusion  presents  a  major
challenge  in  the  ongoing  transformation  brought  about  by  the  information  revolution.  e-
Inclusion  encompasses  actions  aiming  at  greater  cohesion  within  the  Information  Society
context, including access and participation for all, gender issues, the use of ICTs in daily life ,
work,  education  and  e-Health.  In  particular,  e-Health  applications  could  contribute  to  more
efficient work of health applications, better delivery of health services and to higher quality of
medical care.

Information  Society  tools  and  instruments  can  help  to  achieve  the  UN  Millennium
Development Goals of combating poverty and hunger, eliminating illiteracy, reducing infant
mortality,  advancing  the  status  of  women,  improving  maternal  health,  fighting  disease,  and
promoting  sustainability.  However,  they  also  present  an  additional  challenge  in  the  form  of
the so-called digital divide, a further widening of economic and social gaps as a result of the
unequal opportunities of access to these tools and instruments.

As  with  other  development  challenges,  the  decision  to  embrace  these  new  opportunities
belongs  to  developing  countries  themselves  and  the  relevant  stakeholders,  notably  the  local
communities. Ownership by them is indispensable. The international community, for its part,
can  play  an  active  role  by  pointing  to  the  potential  benefits  of  new  policies  and  assisting
interested  countries  in  designing  appropriate  policies  as  a  function  of  their  situations  and
priorities.

To this end, the Commission is implementing a specific pilot project on capacity building for
information  and  communication  technologies  in  developing  countries,  in  association  with
other major international institutions, such as the UN-ITU and the World  Bank Group. This
action  for  capacity  building  in  developing  Countries  has  been  initiated  by  the  European
Parliament  15 and will contribute to the design of  better end more country  led  ICT  policies,
notably in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

14 

15 

Communication on Information and Communication Technologies in Development: The role of ICTs in
EC development policy, COM(2001) 770 final, 14.12.2001
Budget line B7-623 in budget years 2003 and 2003.

11

                                                
EU proposed position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To recognise the potential of ICTs to contribute to the achievement of the UN Millennium

Development Goals.

EU proposed position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To support a global initiative in the field of e-Health.

(cid:1)  To support a global action aiming at mobilising ICTs for achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals, notably by mainstreaming ICTs in development assistance.

(cid:1)  To  implement  and  mainstream  the  pilot  initiatives  on  capacity  building  for  information
and  communication  technologies  in  developing  countries  with  the  UN-ITU  and  other
international institutions.

4.2.6.  Promoting cultural and linguistic diversity

The emerging global networked knowledge society will be central to shaping a global culture
of  co-operation,  involving  a  multitude  of  different  but  co-operating  cultures  -  turning  the
threat of cultural divisiveness into the asset of cultural diversity.

An inclusive Information Society founded on the preservation and promotion of diversity of
cultural expression fosters mutual understanding and respect. ICTs and the media as a whole
can and should stimulate linguistic and cultural diversity, including through the facilitation of
production,  distribution,  diffusion  and  access  to  local  content.  They  can  also  enhance  the
capacity of governments to develop active policies to that end. In this respect, production and
diffusion  of  appropriate  local  content  available  in  the  user’s  mother  tongue  is  of  vital
importance.

The  process  of  globalisation,  facilitated  by  the  rapid  development  of  ICTs,  though
representing a challenge for cultural diversity, creates the conditions for a renewed dialogue
among  cultures,  the  promotion  of  knowledge  and  mutual  understanding  as  well  as
contributing  to  peace  and  stability.  In  this  context,  the  EU  welcomes  the  adoption  of  the
Universal Declaration on cultural diversity in November 2001 by UNESCO, and supports the
implementation  of  its  Action  Plan,  including  the  point  related  to  the  opportunity  of  an
international instrument on cultural diversity.

The  EU  promotes  the  involvement  of  different  stakeholders  in  the  development  of
multilingual,  affordable  applications  that  improve  the  overall  quality  of  life,  particularly  in
key  areas  such  as  education  and  health,  both  globally  and  at  local  community  level.16
Promotion  of  cultural  diversity  and  identities,  including  the  creation  of  varied  information
content  and  the  digitalisation  of  people's  educational,  scientific  and  cultural  heritage,  is  an
important priority in the development of the Information Society. Research on the social and
cultural impact of ICTs should be continued.

Proposed EU position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To  give  priority  to  cultural  and  linguistic  diversity  by  promoting  the  creation  and

dissemination of and access to local content.

16 

e.g. within the framework of the eContent initiative

12

                                                
4.3. 

EU  priorities  in  addition  to  the  key  principles  outlined  by  the  preparatory
process

The  issues  listed  in  this  section  are  referred  to  in  the  Declaration  and  Plan  of  Action.
However,  the  EU  wants  to  underline  their  importance  by  highlighting  them  as  additional
priorities deserving special attention.

4.3.1.  Governance of the Information Society

The EU has always stressed the need for a global and inclusive approach of the Information
Society associating the various stakeholders. To this regard, an enabling environment, based
on  full  participation  of  the  private  sector  and  civil  society  is  essential.  This  would  aim  at
fostering entrepreneurship by creating appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks as well as
encouraging the take-up of the Information Society by citizens.

The increasingly global Information Society raises many issues that are – due to their cross-
border  nature  –  in  the  interest  of  countries  world-wide,  including  emerging  and  developing
ones:  e.g.  questions  related  to  security,  protection  of  data,  intellectual  property,  privacy,
Internet  governance;  but  also  the  global  solidarity  effort  for  co-operation:  activities  of
multilateral organisations, increase synergies between public donors, increase priority to ICT
in  the  development  aid  policies.  Whilst  some  issues  have  already  been  addressed  at  global
level, others are still pending.

EU proposed position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To reaffirm that the development of the Information Society must be an inclusive process
based on full participation of all countries; such an inclusive process has also to be open to
the participation of the private sector and the civil society. This reality has to be reflected
in  the  international  governing  bodies  of  the  Information  Society,  including  for  Internet
governance.

4.3.2.  Promoting economic growth

The importance of the communications sector lies in its role as an engine for growth and in its
impact  on  all  other  sectors  of  the  economy.  The  EU  has  addressed  this  issue  recently  and
foresees various measures to secure sound growth in the sector.17

The restructuring of business processes to make use of ICTs is essential, particularly for small
and  medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs),  and  public  policies  should  support  this  process.  The
use  of  digital  technologies  –  if  accompanied  by  the  adoption  of  new  forms  of  work
organisation  and  appropriate  workers’  training  -  can  enhance  the  role  of  enterprises  in
promoting  entrepreneurship,  accumulating  knowledge,  upgrading  skills,  thereby  increasing
productivity, incomes and jobs, and promoting a better quality of working life. As a incentive
for the take-up of ICTs, governments can support the introduction of e-Business, notably by
setting the rules and using e-Business in their interaction with the business community.

The  production  of  knowledge  depends  greatly  on  the  protection  of  intellectual  property,
including in digital format. Economic operators need incentives to invest in new products and
services and need to know that they  enjoy adequate protection, including against piracy  and

17

Communication  on  Electronic  Communications  –  The  Road 
COM(2003) 65 final, 11.2.2003

to 

the  Knowledge  Economy,

13

                                                
counterfeiting. At the same time, it is important that laws provide for adequate exceptions to
these rights, facilitating the dissemination of protected works, taking due account of general
interest concerns.

Proposed EU position for the Declaration:

(cid:1)  To reaffirm the clear message to the private sector that the communications sector and in

particular the use of ICTs continue to be an engine for economic growth;

(cid:1)  To foster entrepreneurship as the basis engine for the dissemination of ICTs throughout all

levels of society.

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To  promote  the  creation  of  appropriate  frameworks  for  e-Commerce  and  encourage

governments to use electronic transactions in their public procurement processes.

4.3.3.  Promoting Research and Development and innovation

Research  and  Education  have  historically  proved  to  be  key  factors  driving  the  evolution  of
society.  One  of  the  key  mechanisms  is  shared  research  and  technological  development
through  the  measures  of  the  6th  RTD  framework  programme,  which  includes  substantial
measures to help build research capacity  through  international  human mobility  and  research
training.  In  addition,  R&D  and  innovation  are  strategic  fields  in  the  development  of  new
products  and  applications,  including  locally  relevant  developments,  which  are  the  key  to
effective  take-up  by  users.  These  activities  may  include  the  promotion  of  open  source
software and interoperable platforms.

From  this  point  of  view,  Networks  and  Network  Services  (Grids  being  one  such  example)
have  emerged  in  recent  times  as  one  of  the  most  effective  vehicles  for  disseminating
information and knowledge, thereby aiding the process of cross-fertilisation of ideas. A global
initiative would increase the synergy of inter-networking in terms of the creation, wealth and
distribution  of  information,  particularly  within  the  current  inter-connection  of  National
Research and Education Networks (NRENs). The EU can draw on long-standing experience
in this field, notably with the GEANT network and its extension to developing regions by way
of co-operation programmes (EUMEDIS, @LIS).

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To support increased co-operation in Research and Development, innovation and research

training.

(cid:1)  To develop a World-Wide Research and Education Network  based on  the experience of

GEANT.

4.4. 

Strategies, programmes and methods for implementation of the Plan of Action

The  draft  Plan  of  Action  includes  indications  of  the  ways  and  means  of  implementation,
which warrant the following comments.

14

4.4.1.  Dialogue and partnership at the heart of the process

The  Summit  should  be  the  opportunity  to  give  new  impetus  to  dialogue  and  (RTD)
partnership in the field and to  trigger new  ways of  co-operation and implementation, taking
advantage of the participation of civil society and the private sector in the process. Indeed, the
Plan of Action will be a combination of governmental, including international governmental
organisations,  actions  and  partnerships  organised  on  a  pragmatic  basis  between  the  various
groups of stakeholders. The challenge is to combine the mobilisation of markets forces with
the necessary leading role of governments for appropriate frameworks and stimulation and the
solidarity  mechanism.  In  this  context,  a  central  set  of  actions  focuses  on  the  promotion  of
global e-Strategies designed to produce an enabling environment and a framework for all such
actions to be undertaken.

The  private sector would be involved through  partnerships with other  stakeholders.  It  could
also  consider  the  development  of  new  markets  as  an  investment  and  commit  itself  to
providing  ICT  goods and services  at  preferential  conditions  for  specific  categories  of  users,
notably non-profit-making organisations directly involved in poverty alleviation.

Along  the  same  lines,  interaction  with  civil  society  will  enhance  the  ability  to  develop
collective creation of knowledge and know-how. This could be done by developing networks
of  stakeholders  in  the  various  fields,  and  mobilising  resources,  in  particular  those  of  local
authorities,  local  entrepreneurs  and  NGOs,  and  may  include  local  community  development
and CyberVolunteer programmes and activities.

4.4.2.  Redirecting efforts along WSIS priorities

A  promising  way  would  be  to  scale  up  locally  successful  ICT-related  projects  dealing  with
priority applications like health and education programmes, building on existing experience.
Appropriate  mechanisms  could  be  put  in  place  to  accompany  the  process  in  order  to  1)
facilitate the extension of the project, 2) support limited replications in pilot projects, and 3)
prepare the roll-out of broader programmes based on the success of the pilot projects.

Furthermore,  a  cumulative  knowledge  process  through  systematic  networking  of  grassroots
initiatives and the creation of websites should be fostered, in order to facilitate exchanges of
information  and  experience,  disseminate  good  practices  and  to  benefit  from  synergies  and
peering effects on a large scale.

International  R&D  programmes  could  include  a  focus  on  low  purchasing  power  markets,
including  research  on  appropriate  technologies  and  innovative  marketing  and  distribution
mechanisms for these markets. The main aim is to redirect part of the R&D effort and to offer
developing  countries  the  possibility  to  participate.  Projects  should  be  based  on  local
experience and knowledge but also benefit from capacities of multinational companies.

The  development  of  an  appropriate  monitoring  and  benchmarking  exercise  for  developing
countries  and  emerging  economies  through  indicators  evaluating  progress  towards  well-
identified goals is another important component for the success of initiatives.  Indicators and
periodic reports may also provide a basis for benchmarking and peer reviews and contribute
to the dissemination of best practices.

15

Proposed EU position for the Plan of Action:

(cid:1)  To scale up locally successful ICT-related projects;

(cid:1)  To foster cumulative knowledge through systematic networking;

(cid:1)  To encourage R&D for Development;

(cid:1)  To develop appropriate benchmarking and monitoring indicators.

4.4.3. 

International and regional co-operation

The Information Society is not a competence area of one single agency within the UN system.
Telecommunications  issues  are  dealt  with  by  the  ITU,  but  also  UNESCO  or  the  WHO  are
exploring  the  role  of  ICTs  in  their  respective  fields  of  competence.  Recently,  the  UN  ICT
Task Force was created in order to address more specifically  Information Society issues and
to strengthen the synergies between the activities of the different UN agencies.

The EC and the Member States are participating and contributing to the different activities of
these organisations as well as to those of other multilateral organisations, such as the World
Bank or the OECD. The Summit will entail requests for co-operation and the EU will give its
support  according  to  its  priorities  as  laid  out  in  this  Communication,  based  on  existing
funding mechanisms and development assistance.

On  the  other  hand,  in  economic  integration  areas,  regional  markets  (  e.g  Mercosur)  could
emerge as a result of harmonisation of the national legal and regulatory frameworks and trans-
border  agreements.  As  experienced  in  the  EU,  these  integrated  markets  entail  new
perspectives for investment, emergence of major economic players and improved conditions
for consumes notably through more effective competition.

5. 

CONCLUSIONS

Based on inputs from the Commission, co-ordinated in the Council, and submitted by the EU
Presidency,  the  European  Union  has  already  started  to  contribute  in  a  major  way  to  the
discussions in the initial preparatory process of the Summit. It is now important to ensure that
the EU can continue to play a constructive role in the process and negotiate its position on the
basis of political guidelines provided by the Council and the European Parliament.

The key principles which the EU should pursue as well as the overall priorities and objectives
and a number of concrete suggestions for implementation are set out in this Communication.
During the preparatory process, the focus should be on the following priorities:

Building  the  Information  Society  prerequisites:  to  adopt  a  core  of  principles  based  on
fundamental  human  rights  –  to  produce  an  enabling  environment  and  capacity  building
investing  first  in  people  –  to  pave  the  way  for  an  Information  Society  reflecting  our  values
and principles as well as its appropriate governance.

Developing  the  right  tools:  to  devise  and  implement  e-Strategies,  including  appropriate
regulatory  frameworks  -  to  allow  broad  mobilisation  of  all  stakeholders  –  to  develop  key
applications, in particular for e-Government, e-Learning, e-Health and e-Business.

16

Seizing  the  benefit  of  the  Information  Society  for  countries  and  individuals:  to  reinforce
Human  rights  and  the  rule  of  the  law,  notably  the  freedom  of  expression,  and  the  right  to
communicate  and  to  access  information  and  knowledge  –  to  achieve  the  UN  Millennium
Development  Goals  -  to  strengthen  the  exercise  of  democracy  and  favour  good  governance
and  to  benefit  from  better  public  services  –  to  participate  in  the  major  flows  of  economic,
scientific and cultural exchange – to use ICTs for social development and economic growth.

Because of the broad and moving agenda for the Summit, specific points have not been fully
addressed. However, whenever EU policies and/or a Community competencies are concerned,
EU positions already agreed will be advanced and defended in the course of the negotiation
process, e.g. in the field of electronic commerce, data protection, illegal and harmful content,
IPR,  protection  of  minors,  combating  computer-related  crime,  exploitation  of  public  sector
information,  competition  rules,  etc.  Along  the  same  lines,  EU  positions  in  other  forums,
notably the Council of Europe and the OECD, will be used to further the process.

The Council and the European Parliament are asked to approve these positions.

Following  the  Summit  in  Geneva  in  2003,  the  Commission  intends  to  submit  a  further
Communication, which will report on the results of the Summit and the preparatory process
for  the  second  phase  leading  up  to  the  Summit  in  Tunis  in  November  2005,  and  include
proposals for the EU position and approach for that Summit.

17