Europe shares an inheritance of values that can usefully feed or guide the debate on information society. A European identity does exist, for example in terms of respect for privacy or child protection.
Moreover, Europe has the experience of building harmonization from diversified cultures. Taking advantage of this asset, the European Union has a dialogue role to play in the international sphere.
Lastly, as many international institutions, Europe has to answer to the growing need for participation to the decision-making process expressed by the players. An open process of cooperation on the rules can fulfil this goal.
The World Summit for Information Society has determined that one of its main political objectives is to associate civil society and private companies to the state deliberations. In this context, it is particularly interesting to illustrate the potential of such partnerships with a concrete initiative. The European coregulation network is an illustration of such an association. It will usefully organize the debate on the key internet issues at European level.
The European internet coregulation network has 4 objectives :
- Build a resource and expertise network on internet legal issues at the European level. Thanks to the network, members will be able to share experiences, good practices and knowledge.
- Organize public debates with all stakeholders (representatives of States, private companies and the civil society) at the European level on the key right and usage internet issues (such as spam, child protection, intellectual property rights, etc.).
- Feed the European institutions with proposals on the subjects of common interests.
- Be prepared to help in the WSIS follow-up process. The network will position its works in the perspective of the Tunis Summit to take place in November 2005.
