24 April 1995

Doc. 7288

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on democracy and the "information superhighway"

presented by Mr MASSERET, France, SOC and others

1.       During the seminar on "electronic democracy" held in Paris by the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations under the terms of Order No. 489, the participants discussed the impact of media development, notably the information superhighway, on the workings of democracy.

2.       Their conclusion was that, in light of the considerable increase in means of informing and consulting the public directly via these media networks, there was a pressing need to lay down guidelines to safeguard fundamental freedoms and citizens' individual and collective rights. The principles of universality, equality, confidentiality and freedom of information should be respected. It is vital that direct consultation of citizens should not lead to manipulation at the expense of awareness of the public interest.

3.       Thus the Assembly asks national parliaments:

i.       to identify ways to enable the public authorities to fulfil their role as the guarantor of fundamental freedoms and allow elected representatives to ensure that citizens can participate in political debates with complete knowledge of the real issues at stake and the public interest;

ii.       to take account of the Assembly's work in this field.

Signed:

see overleaf

Signed:

Masseret, France, SOC

Bachna, Czech Republic, EDG

Columberg, Switzerland, EPP

Golu, Romania, SOC

Manescu, Romania, SOC

Grzeskowiak, Poland, EPP

Roman, Spain, SOC

Seeuws, Belgium, SOC

Seitlinger, France, EPP

Thompson D., United Kingdom, EDG

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left