1. A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY
ACCESS TO INFORMATION -
A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY
Baltic Sea NGO Forum, Turku :
”Northern Dimension - Human Dimension Strengthening Civil Society in the Baltic Sea Region”
Reino Paasilinna, Dr. Ph.
Member of the European parliament

2. INFORMATION- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Data - information - knowledge - understanding - wisdom
Information is necessary for:
freedom – peace
truth – participation
justice – democracy.

3. INFORMATION- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Soviet Union - an example: Glasnost
Knowledge secures individual’s autonomy and rights.
Information is the biggest factor of production.

4. ”OWNERSHIP” OF INFORMATION
The control of information means crucial power.
The instruments of processing and distribution of information, information industry, introduces economic and political powers.
Information has been changed into a product although it is primarily a citizens’ right.

5. LIBERALISM: The market is the best distributor of information resources. Result: uneven distribution.
Citizenship is converted into consumership, people spend away themselves instead of demanding socio-political changes.
Without capabilities in the Information society one will be pushed aside in the information based economy.
DIGITAL DIVIDE

6. What is happening now?
Public information diminishes, private information grows.
Media publicity under the elite’s control
Televization of politics
Putin - Berlusconi
EP resolution on media concentration
MEGAPOWER

7. eGovernment More efficient and user-friendly public administration
Government can be a major driver of Internet take-up through on-line public services.
More efficient and user-friendly public administration
Success requires internal reorganisation and investment in human capital.

8. Proposed actions: eGovernment
Modern, online public services: eGovernment
broadband connection of all public services
interoperability (framework by end 2003)
interactive public services by end 2004
public procurement
public internet access points (PIAP’s)
culture and tourism
* By end 2003: an agreed interoperability framework to support the delivery of pan-European e-government services:
based on open standards
encourage the use of open source software
recommend technical policies and specifications for joining up public administration information systems across the EU.
* By end 2004, agreed list of services for which interactivity and interoperability are desirable.
basic public services all interactive
exploit both broadband networks and multi-platform access
provide access for people with special needs, such as people with disabilities and the elderly.
* By end 2005, Member States should carry out a significant part of public procurement electronically. Private sector experience shows reducing costs most effective through Internet-based supply chain management.
* All citizens should have easy access to Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs), preferably with broadband connections, in their communes/municipalities.
* By 2005, e-services defined to promote Europe and to offer user-friendly public information on culture and tourism.

9. Social movements tend to introduce an alternative pattern of communication and to democratize the communication processes.

10. ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Is the issue public, in the archives or ONLY in the Internet?
The democracy in the European Union cannot work without publicity.
The prerequisite of democracy: public access to information and public information networks.
Essential information should cost nothing.

11. ACCESS TO INFORMATION Everyone should have access to the Internet
Free Internet time to every citizen
NGOs to fight for access in the Internet
The 9/11 factor: control of information - and people

12. www.europa.eu.int www.rpaasilinna.net
For more information: