Ms
Kroes said about the initiative: “The next two years will be critical
in redrawing the global map of internet governance. I commend President
Rousseff for taking this initiative”. She
added: “The outcomes of NETmundial must
be concrete and actionable, with clear milestones and
timeline. Europe will contribute to finding a credible way
forward for global internet governance.”
The
European Commission is seeking to contribute actively to the debate to update
the governance system for the internet.
The
European Commission firmly supports a strengthened multistakeholder model for
internet governance, based on transparent and democratic involvement of all
relevant actors and groups, rather than a government-controlled internet. Ms
Kroes said: “Top down approaches are not the right answer. We must
strengthen the multi-stakeholder model to preserve the Internet as a fast
engine for innovation”.
The
EU is committed to an internet that continues to serve fundamental freedoms and
human rights. Ms Kroes noted "Fundamental freedoms are not negotiable.
They must be protected online”.
Ms
Kroes has outlined six areas the European Commission will focus on at the
conference:
-
Improvements to the
multi-stakeholder model of governance (and resistance to calls for greater
government-control) model
-
Strengthening
the Internet Governance Forum
-
Providing tools and mechanisms for better information
sharing and capacity building, so that a truly global debate and governance is
possible
-
Globalising IANA
(Internet
Assigned Numbers Authority)
-
Globalisation of
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers)
-
Jurisdictional issues on the Internet
Background
The
European Commission issued its policy position on 12 February calling for more transparent,
accountable and inclusive governance of internet. The document serves as a
foundation for a common European approach in global internet governance
negotiations, such at the NETmundial Conference this week, the Internet
Governance Forum in September and the High Level ICANN meetings through 2014
and 2015.
Neelie Kroes has published her correspondence and
updated policy positions on her blog posts from: 16 April and 11
April.
Useful links
Europe & the Internet in a global context
Community
Communication "Internet Governance: Next
Steps"
Neelie Kroes' website
To
follow the EU position at NETmundial follow these twitter accounts:
@NeelieKroesEU and @RyanHeathEU
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