MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

4.7.2006

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Simon Coveney and Charles Tannock
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on freedom of expression on the Internet

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6‑0408/06

European Parliament resolution on freedom of expression on the Internet

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

-  having regard to article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights,

-  having regard to the Declaration of Principles adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society on 12 December 2003,

-  having regard to the Joint Declaration by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression of 21 December 2005,

A.  whereas article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,

B.  whereas the Internet provides a number of different services that serve as indispensable tools for citizens as well as journalists and thus are important for a free media landscape,

C.  whereas access to the Internet can strengthen democracy and contribute to a country's economic and social development, and restricting such access is incompatible with the right to freedom of expression, while recognizing that restrictions may apply in the case of illegal activities, such as incitement to hatred, violence and racism, totalitarian propaganda and children's access to pornography or their sexual exploitation,

D.  whereas at the initiative of Reporters Without Borders 32 investment funds and financial analysts have reaffirmed in a joint statement that freedom of expression is a universal human right that companies have an obligation to respect throughout their worldwide operations, and, in particular in countries with a history of serious and widespread human rights violations,

1.  Underlines that the ability for all to access and contribute information, ideas and knowledge is essential in a global information society;

2.  Strongly condemns restrictions on Internet content, whether they apply to the dissemination or to the receipt of information, that are imposed by Governments and are not in strict conformity with the guarantee of freedom of expression; strongly condemns the harassment and imprisonment of journalists and others who are expressing their opinions on the Internet;

3.  Welcomes the joint investor statement on freedom of expression and the Internet; stresses that corporations which provide Internet searching, chat, publishing or other services should make an effort to ensure that they respect the rights of their bona fide clients to use the Internet;

4.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to support campaigns for freedom of expression on Internet and demand the release of all those persons who are imprisoned for expressing their opinions on the Internet;

5.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.