Doc. 11414
4 October 2007

Electronic democracy

Motion for a recommendation
presented by Mr de PUIG and others

      Globalisation is an irreversible process, essentially propelled by technological development, particularly in the field of information and communication technologies. It is also affecting democracy and practices in the Member States, which are constantly having to adjust to these new technologies, e.g. in respect of voting and good governance.

      The Council of Europe has made promoting and protecting democracy, including democracy in its electronic forms, one of its chief tasks. It fully acknowledges the importance of maintaining and strengthening democratic institutions and processes within the context of the opportunities and challenges inherent in the rapid emergence of the information society.

      This is why the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has decided to study the general question of electronic democracy.

      The Assembly is already aware of the many initiatives taken by numerous Member States concerning electronic democracy at national, regional and local level.

      Since respect for human rights is one of the Council of Europe’s fundamental values, electronic democracy must, above all, reinforce human rights, and particularly the right of everyone to express, seek, obtain and communicate information and ideas.

      Electronic democracy also raises, above all, questions which concern the democratic exercise of power, and not purely technical matters. The changes it has brought must be accompanied by changes in the structures and methods of public authorities, and in the way they organise their work.

      The PACE thus has a duty to make a thorough study of this question, for the purpose of meeting the challenges of electronic democracy.

Signed¹:

• de PUIG Lluís Maria, Spain, SOC
• ALIGRUDIĆ Miloš, Serbia, EPP/CD
• AUSTIN John, United Kingdom, SOC
• AZZOLINI Claudio, Italy, EPP/CD
• ČURDOVÁ Anna, Czech Republic, SOC
• LAVTIŽAR-BEBLER Darja, Slovenia, ALDE
• POURGOURIDES Christos, Cyprus, EPP/CD
• PRESCOTT John, United Kingdom, SOC
• SYDOW Björnvon, Sweden, SOC
• SZABÓ Zoltán, Hungary, SOC
• TEKELİOĞLU Mehmet, Turkey, EPP/CD
• WILSHIRE David, United Kingdom, EDG

¹     SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group