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Information and Communication Technologies Partnership |
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Information and Communication Technologies Partnership |
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Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for letting me know that your association signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning "A Partnership in Information and Communication Technology".
I strongly believe that your active cooperation with other associations will be beneficial, not only for your own organisation but for all users and vendors of ICT and for the economy at large. Together you can stimulate a demand driven market, concentrating on a more effective use of ICT.
For this reason we have contributed to the discussion and the preparation of this MoU and its annex on "User Involvement in ICT Policy". We are happy to see such a large consensus on a common approach in this matter.
The Commission wishes to support your initiatives. We have already shown our commitment in two Communications of which I attach copies to this letter: "An open and structured dialogue between the Commission and special interest groups" (93/C 63/03) and "Increased transparency in the work of the Commission" (93/C 63/03). These documents clearly show the wish of the Commission to install an open and transparent dialogue on its policies with all interested parties.
I will now refer more specifically to the articles of the MoU on which you may wish to know the Commission's position.
The Commission fully endorses the general principles explained in this article.
The Commission will continue to invite associations to meetings on important policy issues and, if you wish, participate in meetings you organise with other associations. We intend to follow the same method of cooperation as you have accepted by signing this MoU. We are ready to help finding solutions to problems that may arise from the practical implementation of this MoU, in as much this remains compatible with our mission and responsibility.
We shall make our best efforts to satisfy your information needs as expressed in article IV. 1. Annexed to this letter, you will find an information package of which the content corresponds with article IV.1: (i), (ii), (iii). It will be issued usually by our DG XIII information and communication unit ( Ms. M. WRIGHT, 200, rue de la Loi, B - 1049 Brussels, tel.: 32 2 296 80 62, fax: 32 2 296 90 37). We would very much appreciate your suggestions for improvement as they result from your own effort in informing your members (article IV 3).
In the spirit of the two Communications referred to before (93/C 63/02 and 93/C 63/03), we shall ensure that associations with an interest in a given subject have the opportunity to express their views. This will enable the Commission to draw up balanced proposals. We very much appreciate your intention in reaching common positions with other associations. This will make your input to policy making more effective.
We have no intention to create special funds for user associations. We believe is better to open existing or new community programmes to common actions satisfying the conditions of article Vl. 1. We shall make sure that our procedures offer a fair and equal chance to such actions.
I am convinced we have prepared the ground for an efficient cooperation and I am looking forward to a fruitful partnership with all associations having signed the MoU.
Very sincerely Yours,
Michel CARPENTER