Information Society: globalisation and strengthening of the international cooperation

In adopting its Resolution on Globalisation and the information society drafted by Mr. Franco MALERBA (I, EPP), the European Parliament welcomed the Commission's proposal for an international initiative for the Internet and electronic commerce. It also underwrites the principles outlined in the Final Declaration of the Bonn Ministerial Conference as a guide for governments' action in this area. The following are the Parliament's recommendations to the Commission : - the initiative for the Internet could take the form of a non-binding 'Internet Charter', a document containing a set of internationally agreed, legally non-binding objectives and principles encouraging a simplified regulatory governance of Internet, consistent with inter alia security, safety and soundness, privacy, jurisdiction, liability, taxation, copyright and data protection considerations, pursuing maximum inter-operability across international borders; - the main purpose of the Internet initiative should be to help businesses and financial institutions make the most of opportunities offered by electronic commerce and banking in the world market, to ensure the interests of consumers, to prevent premature and conflicting regulation developing inside and outside the European internal market which would impede the development of electronic banking and commerce or imperil the security of electronic banking and commerce; - the Charter should not alter or bear prejudice to competition law; - a market-driven approach should be adopted in the Charter definition process so that industry can fully contribute to identifying and removing barriers to electronic commerce; - the Charter should hasten, but not replace, specific legislation in critical areas such as intellectual property rights, electronic signature, encryption, taxation, liability, fight against crime on the Internet and names management on the network; - the Commission should involve the Parliament in the activities of the Charter and keep it informed of the progress of the Global Business Dialogue.�