Doc. 9515

8 July 2002

Parliaments’ capacity to respond to the challenges of the knowledge society

Motion for resolution

presented by Mr Tiuri and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

      The world is changing from an industrial society to a knowledge society. Science and technology are the carrying forces in determining the future of nations in the knowledge society. New innovations such as personal computing, mobile telephony, internet and interactive digital television have transformed and are transforming the world economy, the structure of society and ways of living.

      The national parliaments must take the world’s changes into account in order to be able to make good decisions. The daily work of the parliamentarians has a relatively short-term horizon, which is not sufficient in the changing world. It can be expected that perspectives of 5 to 20 years will support and improve the decision-making.

      In the world where the new knowledge has a great effect on society, it is necessary for parliaments and parliamentarians to closely follow the development of science and technology. In the knowledge society scientific results are rapidly transformed into applications. It is important that parliaments keep contact with researchers and the scientific community. These contacts can be arranged in different ways.

      As an example of new working methods the Parliament of Finland has established a Committee for the Future to assist the members of parliament (MPs) and Finland to develop into a knowledge society. The Finnish Government is required to deliver to Parliament a report (“white paper”) about the future of Finland once every election term (four years). The Committee for the Future prepares Parliament’s response to the report, which is approved by Parliament and is binding on the government.

      Several parliaments in Council of Europe member countries have a technology assessment procedure, whereby the impact of new technologies on society are examined using experts. This assessment and follow-up is organised in different ways in different countries.

      The parliaments of Finland and Sweden have also associations of members of parliament and eminent scientists. The aim of these associations is to offer a forum for contacts and exchange of information between scientists and parliamentarians.

      It would seem useful that the Assembly assess the best practices, and recommend and encourage the introduction of practices in parliaments to improve the taking into account of future perspectives in parliamentary work, the technology assessment procedures, and the interaction between parliamentarians and scientists.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : 1

Tiuri, Finland, EPP/CD

Behrendt, Germany, SOC

Chapman, United Kingdom, EDG

Elo, Finland, SOC

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Gubert, Italy, EPP/DC

Kautto, Finland, SOC

Korhonen, Finland, EPP/CD

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Luhtanen, Finland, SOC

Truu, Estonia, EDG

Velikov,Bulgaria, NR

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group