Activites

• 2015/02/11 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T8-0033/2015 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups. Parliament called on the UN General Assembly to renew the mandate of the IGF, and to strengthen its resources and the multistakeholder model of internet governance. The purpose of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is to carry out its mandate from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) with regard to convening forums for democratic, transparent and multistakeholder policy dialogue. Its main role and function of the IGF is to discuss a wide range of issues related to internet governance and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to the international community. Members invited the Member States and the EU institutions concerned to keep the IGF high on their agendas and to continue to support the IGF whilst stressing that Parliament should continue to participate in future IGF meetings with a substantial delegation. Members also welcomed the commitment made by the US Government for the transfer of stewardship over the IANA functions and emphasised the importance of the full accountability and transparency of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to provide a long-term solution for the stability and security of the internet, as in September 2015 the current agreement between ICANN and the US Government on the supervision of the IANA function will expire. Parliament called on the Member States and the Commission to increase their efforts to support the conclusion of this new timely agreement on IANA functions. It also called on the EU institutions concerned to propose the EU itself as a first international partner with ICANN as regards IANA functions. The resolution focused on the need to: improve internet access all over the world; the IGF should increase the inclusive participation of all stakeholders; further discuss, within the IGF, issues related to cybersecurity and cybercrimes, ranging from: (i) solutions to improve the security of critical infrastructures; (ii) giving the appropriate tools for secure communication to individuals and small businesses; secure an open and independent internet as a global, common resource, together with non-discriminatory access to knowledge; continue efforts to ensure legal protection of net neutrality, which is an indispensable precondition for safeguarding freedom of information and expression, boosting growth and jobs by developing innovation and business opportunities related to the internet and promoting and safeguarding cultural and linguistic diversity. Lastly, rejecting the idea of a state-controlled internet and mass surveillance of the internet, Parliament stressed that fundamental freedoms and human rights are not negotiable and must be protected both online and offline and stressed the economic and social importance of online rights for privacy and of users’ control of their personal data.

• 2015/02/09 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament

Documents

• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T8-0033/2015

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)