92001E3393

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3393/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 December 2001)

Subject: ACP countries' access to the information society

At the Third ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of October 2001 the Commission and the European Parliament gave a commitment to organise conferences and seminars aimed at enabling ACP countries to gain access to the information society.

These conferences should provide a forum for discussions and initiatives with a view to promoting realistic projects, whilst taking account of the information society summits which are to be held in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.

Bearing in mind the emphasis placed on ensuring that ACP countries have access to the information society, has the Commission drawn up a calendar of conferences and seminars aimed at achieving this vital goal?

What initiatives does the Commission propose in order to facilitate ACP countries' access to the information society?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2002)

The African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the Union's (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly's Resolution 3228 on the means of access to global communication for ACP countries as a contribution to sustainable development, and the need for such access, adopted on 1 November 2001, invites, in its paragraph 60 the Commission and the Parliament, to organise preparatory meetings prior to the World Summit on Information Society-(WSIS). The same resolution, in its paragraph 64, invites the Joint Assembly to organise a workshop at its next session in South Africa.

With regard to the WSIS, the preparatory process is currently being finalised. There will be three Preparatory conferences (PrepCom), respectively in the summer of 2002, in the spring of 2003 and in the autumn of 2003. Moreover, there will be regional conferences. The one for Africa will probably be led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

The Community intends, in view of its many competences on the subject, to participate as full member and play an active role in the preparation of the Summit, be it in the PrepCom or the regional conferences. However, rather than planning additional events, the Commission will provide its input in the many events already foreseen.

The workshop planned at the occasion of the next Joint Parliamentary Assembly is an initiative of the Assembly, not a Commission one. The Commission is ready to assist it in its preparation as needed.

There are several programmes with information and communication technology (ICT) components in the ACP region but no major one specifically devoted to information society. Such a programme is being currently appraised for the Indian Ocean countries and discussions are ongoing with the Caribbean region for them to join, with European Development Fund (EDF) funds, the @LIS programme covering Latin America. Within the existing policy and financing frameworks, similar programmes for the African region may be considered in the context of the 9th EDF programming exercise.