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An electronic co-operation in Information and Communication Technology |
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An electronic co-operation in Information and Communication Technology |
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The associations of users, vendors and professionals in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) signing this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), hereinafter referred to as 'Subscribing Associations',
Wishing to provide their members access to ICT information from other associations, the European Commission and the ICT Partnership,
Wishing to promote their activities to the other associations to identify possible areas of co-operation,
Wishing to participate in or comment on the work of the ICT Round Tables,
Considering that electronic tools and networks may widden the audience of the work of the ICT partnership, and enable more associations to participate or get information by using an on-line service,
Considering that ICT information should be accessible by all levels of membership in their associations, and that on-line services may provide a means for that purpose,
Considering that electronic tools require common guidelines,
Have agreed as follows:
1. This MoU is related to another Memorandum of Understanding called A Partnership in Information and Communication Technology , which describes co-operation between European-wide or world-wide ICT associations. This group of associations is referred to as the ICT partnership and has set up ICT Round Tables on topics of common interest in order to identify possible areas of co-operation and to produce mutually agreed statements of standpoints on mjor ICT issues.
2. This MoU promotes the use of on-line ICT services to improve the co-operation between the associations of the ICT Partnership, and enable more associations to get and provide information as well as comment and participate to the preparation of documents published by the ICT round tables. This includes participation by affiliated associations of members of the ICT partnership.
3. To main aims of the On-line services:
- To provide a simple on-line working space which representatives of the Subscribing Associations can use to identify possible areas of co-operation and work co-operatively on documents prior to publication. This applies particulary to the work done in the ICT Round Tables and Requests for co-operation from Subscribing Associations,
- To provide information so that it available to all levels of membership of the Subscribing Associations on
These On-line services include Email lists and a Web server with links to related web sites. The services can run in a decentralised manner so that Associations' and European Commission Web sites can host part of the information.
1. This MoU is open to any ICT association willing to exchange information and co-operate with other Subscribing Members. No obligation is made to use the on-line ICT service provided.
All Associations in the ICT partnership have access to the Information Interchange service. By signing this MoU, Subscribing Associations have the additional benefits of being able to access the Formal Consultation Procedure, to send out Requests for Comments, and give their opinions.
2. The on-line ICT service is not only for the benefits of Subscribing Associations and their representatives, but is also available for all their members, and so the Subscribing Associations will make their members aware of the on-line ICT services.
3. The Subscribing Associations will investigate a continuous process to collect requirements for the on-line ICT services, and to pass them to the On-line ICT services secretariat.
4. The Subscribing Associations will investigate all solutions
to develop multi-cultural and multilingual aspects (mirror Webs
in local languages, links to local news on certain Webs ...) of the
on-line services.
1. Subscribing Associations agree to provide the name and Email address of contact person[s] responsible for forwarding information to the on-line ICT services secretariat.
2. Subscribing Associations agree to provide and update all relevant information for contacting their association: (ie: Address, Telephone and fax number, Email address, Web address as applicable).
3. Subscribing Associations agree to provide and update relevant information on their activities which may lead to co-operative activities with other Subscribing Associations.
4. Subscribing Associations agree to provide news of general interest for publication on the on-line ICT service. The news is to be forwarded to the on-line ICT service secretariat, in the form of a summary of 1-3 lines of text (if possible at least in English) with, if appropriate a link to more detailed information. An expiry date should also be provided to keep the news up-to-date.
5. Subscribing Associations agree to investigate several methods of transferring information; taking into account the large variety of associations (links to association Webs, Home page provided to the association on ICT Webs, regular enquiry from the on-line ICT secretariat ...)
6. Fora will be open in various domain of interest, including any aspect of the on-line services.
7. It is the responability of the contact to ensure that all information
is accurate, non-defamatory and conforms with all requirements of the
Data Protection Directive, Copyright laws, IPR and any other legal
requirements in all the European Union member states. It is the
responsability of the On-line ICT services secretariat to ensure that
any information it puts on-line is accurate and timely.
1. The Formal Consultation Procedure is a facility for any Subscribing Association or chairperson of a round table to solicit the opinions of other Subscribing Associations on documents of importance.
2. A Subscribing Association or a round table chairperson is free to launch a Request For Comments on whatever document and for whatever reason he considers to be important.
3. The request and the comments are public and will be published on the on-line ICT services. They can be freely referred to by the associations
4. The Subscribing Association requesting this service should send the following information to the On-line ICT services secretariat in digital form (E-mail, diskette...):
5. Subscribing Associations wishing to comment can send their comment by using the on-line ICT services. Only the Subscribing Associations' contact person can forward a comment on behalf of a Subscribing Association.
6. The on-line ICT services secretariat will maintain a summary
status report of the Formal Consultation Procedure
1. This MoU remains open for signature for any Association wishing to follow the guidelines laid down herein.
2. A Subscribing Association may at any time withdraw from the MoU. To do so, the Subscribing Association must register its resignation with the on-line ICT services secretariat and inform the other Subscribing Associations and the European Commission in writing.