V I I . E U R O P E A N A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L D I M E N S I O N S O F T H E D I G I TA L A G E N D A
We want to protect and expand an open, free and secure
global Internet as a space for diversity of opinion, participation, innovation and as an engine for economic growth
and work. Rules and conditions for the global network cannot be created solely at national level, but must be rooted
and supported at European and international level. Some
of the basic issues surrounding management of the Internet (such as the assignment and coordination of critical
Internet resources) are decided at a global level. Germany
will participate even more actively than before at international and European level in the relevant negotiations and
discussions.
1. Integration of the Digital Agenda for
Germany in the European context
Issues like network development, network neutrality,
completion of the digital single market, data protection,
the protection of intellectual property on the Internet,
IT security and research funding involve not just German,
but also important European considerations. We therefore
act as advocates for the Digital Agenda for Germany on
the relevant European committees and actively support
the ongoing processes. This helps us to initiate and continue a wide-ranging strategic debate with our European
partners, covering issues such as future measures to be
taken at European level. We will take an active part in the
preparations for the review of the European regulatory
framework for electronic communication and copyright
announced by the European Commission.
Regular discussion and comparison of national considerations with EU initiatives also help to achieve these goals.
With the appointment of an independent Digital Champion (an Internet ambassador for Germany) to the European Commission, we can present established national
measures to our partners. In parallel, we can learn about
best practice models used by other Member States and
drive the debate between Member States, on the one hand,
and European institutions on the other.
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2. Integration of the Digital Agenda for
Germany in the international context
We also represent the Digital Agenda for Germany in the
relevant international organisations. Multi-stakeholder
processes, in which stakeholders from industry and business, science, government and civil society work together
transparently within the framework of their respective
responsibilities, are particularly important in this regard.
We are also broadening our strategic bilateral and multi
lateral consultations.
These consultations include government consultations
with key countries on issues covered by the Digital Agenda,
such as the ICT consultations between Germany and the
US. Within this framework, we will also continue the transatlantic cyber dialogue as an example of a stronger multistakeholder focus.
We are opposed to a ‚cyber arms race‘ but instead favour a
peaceful alignment of international cyber security policy.
We will continue to actively follow discussions on the subject of the Internet, among other issues, within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and debate them
with interested experts. We are coordinating and participating in decision-making processes in the ITU‘s radio sector and standardisation sector, which form the basis for a
successful implementation of the objectives for the digital
infrastructures. We will also actively help to shape the
debate on digital issues in the OECD.
3. Cooperation on Internet management processes (Internet governance)
We participate actively in discussions on the follow-up
process to the two world summits on the information
society (WSIS+10) including the Internet Governance
Forum (IGF) and its preparatory meeting (EuroDIG, IGFDeutschland). Our aim is to ensure the participation of
all stakeholders (multi-stakeholder approach).