ACP-EU assembly calls on EU to promote ICT in developing countries
The ACP (African Caribbean Pacific) -EU joint parliamentary assembly (JPA) has called on the EU to formulate and implement information communications technologies (ICT) policies that will benefit developing countries and the poor. The appeal came at the JPA on 1 November, when the assembly unanimously adopted a report by German MEP Karin Junker calling for increased access to global communication in ACP countries as a contribution to sustainable development. The report noted that the provision of modern information and communications technologies (ICT) infrastructure and facilities in ACP countries is 'extremely inadequate'. The assembly also called on the EU to adopt a programme devoted to the development of ICT in ACP countries. The programme should include action to develop the infrastructure and standards in ACP countries and to establish systems and mechanisms to enable rural and remote communities to have access to information on education, health and business. The assembly also proposed the promotion of technical ICT infrastructure and content, stressing that content should be made available in all dominant languages and dialects in order to both disseminate and cultivate regional cultures and traditions. In order to finance the promotion of ICT, the JPA recommended that each State encourage the private sector to participate, thus promoting competition. Finally, the JPA said that the Commission and the European Parliament should together organise conferences and seminars to discuss concepts and successful projects in the run up to the world summits on information society in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005.