17 Amendments of Louis MICHEL related to 2018/2083(INI)
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Observes, however, that digital technology remains a means and not an end, that priority should be assigned to the most effective ways of attaining objectives and that in some countries, even though digitalisation may be useful, a need still exists for more 'traditional' infrastructure, particularly to afford access to education, energy, food and water; considers, however, that the conditions for digital development must be provided for at the design stage of infrastructure, even if implementation takes place at a later stage;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Points out that, despite the increase in Internet penetration, many populations still do not have access to it and that major disparities exist between countries and between urban and rural areas, so that digital solutions are not always appropriate and cannot always reach the greatest number of people, particularly in the least developed countries;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the imperative that any digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), which is an essential element in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); underlines that access to internet connectivity and digital payment methods are pivotal to enabling digital trade, sustainable development and inclusive growth;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for digitalisation to be featured prominently in the future post- Cotonou agreement as an enabler of inclusive and sustainable development, in accordance with the negotiating guidelines; stresses the importance of stepping up collaboration between researchers and innovators at interregional level, encouraging research and development to promote scientific progress and the transfer of technology and know-how;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a more concerted and holistic cross-sectoral effort from the international community to ensure that the shift towards a more digital economy leaves no one behind by guaranteeing access to digital technologies and services for all economic operators and citizens;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets that less than half of all developing countries have data protection legislation, and calls for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of data and statistics at local, regional, national and global levels and by all stakeholders so as to ensure a high level of protection of data in accordance with the relevant international standards and instruments, in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; notes that timely and accurate data collection enables proper monitoring during implementation, adjusting policies and interventions when needed, and evaluating their results and impact upon completion;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the persistent digital divides across gender, geography, age, and income within each country; insists, therefore, that international development cooperation should use digital technologies for greater inclusion of disadvantaged groups; calls for support for innovation that is adapted to local needs and support for the transition to knowledge-based economies;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the introduction of digital literacy in school curricula at all levels of education in developing countries, with a view to the acquisition of the skills needed to improve access to information; insists also on the need for more advanced training centres on the ground (including coding schools), to train developers and to stimulate the creation of IT solutions and digital applications in line with reality and local needs;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Expresses its concern about the technological dependence on certain operators who are few in number, particularly the GAFA, calls for alternatives to be developed to promote competition, and notes that this aim could be pursued in partnership between the EU and Africa;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. CRecalls that developing countries are far from being immune to cyber- attacks, and calls on all stakeholders in the digitally connected world to take active responsibility to promote greater cybersecurity awareness; points out to this end the importance of developing human capital at all levels in order to reduce threats to cybersecurity through training, education and increased awareness;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on all stakeholders in the digitally connected world to take active responsibility by adopting practical measures to promote greater cybersecurity awareness; points out to this end the importance of developing human capital in order to reduce threats to cybersecurity through training, education and increased awareness;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that MSMEs in developing countries make up the majority of businesses and employ the majority of manufacturing and service sector workers; reiterates that facilitating cross-border e- commerce will have a direct impact on improving livelihoods, fostering higher living standards and boosting employment and economic development; reaffirms the contribution that such endeavours could make to gender equality, since a great number of these companies are owned and run by women;
Amendment 109 #
17a. Stresses the importance of building a sustainable ecosystem for the digital economy, emphasises in particular the importance of training qualified staff in the maintenance of IT systems, and underlines also the economic potential linked to the creation of these jobs in relation to the circular economy and the contribution they will make to the achievement of the SDGs; recalls that certain raw materials needed for the manufacture of digital systems are rare and that efficient recycling methods should therefore be introduced;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Stresses the need to stem trade in minerals whose exploitation finances armed conflicts or involves forced labour;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that e-government applications contribute to making public services faster and cheaper to access, improve consistency and citizen satisfaction, and increase transparency, thus contributing significantly to fighting corruption; stresses the vital role of technology and digitalisation for effective fiscal policy and administration, enabling an effective increase in domestic resource mobilisation and measures against tax evasion and tax fraud; insists that it is imperative to create secure digital identities, as this could help determine the numbers of those in need of certain basic services;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls for the opportunities afforded by digital technology as a way of improving registration of children in registers of births, deaths and marriages be exploited, stresses that UNICEF estimates that, in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 95 million children remain unregistered at birth1 a and therefore have no birth certificate, and that this fact prevents the children concerned from being legally recognised, so that their existence as members of society goes unrecorded from birth and through into adult life, which distorts countries' demographic data, with significant consequences for the assessment of the needs of populations, particularly in terms of access to education or health care; _________________ 1a https://www.unicef.org/french/publication s/files/UNICEF_SOWC_2016_French_L AST.pdf
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Welcomes the 'DEVCO Academy' on-line programme, which makes it possible to train the EU's partners on line, calls for training programmes for local leaders to be further developed and for applications for European subsidies to be drawn up, so that those partners can gain a clearer picture of expectations, aims and conditions and thus improve their prospects of gaining acceptance for their projects; stresses that such initiatives, provided that they are easily accessible, efficient and relevant, would have a positive impact on the absorption of aid and on the image of the EU among its partners;