Kroes calls for global governance of the internet

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission

The internet is a globally important infrastructure and its governance must also be global in nature, Kroes told delegates. With the number of internet users growing world wide, this becomes even more important. “Just look at the figures: the emerging economies will soon have more internet users than the EU and the US combined. Internet governance is therefore equally relevant to all public authorities around the globe and not just the prerogative of the developed countries,” Kroes said.

The needs to be more concrete progress towards enhanced cooperation, and not just another round of consultations on the subject. “Public authorities across the world must now be able, on an equal footing, to effectively carry out their roles and responsibilities when international public policy issues are at stake,” Kroes said, adding that she can see some signs of progress. “We need reform; but we don’t need a revolution.”

She called on the Internet Governance Forum to generate new ideas for reform, in a “sensible manner”. As a platform for international multi-stakeholder dialogue, the forum, “Is a unique opportunity for debate between stakeholders from around the globe,” Kroes said.

She pledged the EU will continue to support the Internet Governance Forum as a non-binding body. Next year the meeting will take place in Kenya, and Kroes said this will help to continue to reinforce the diversity of perspectives that must be weighed in Internet governance.

It is also necessary to improve the Internet Governance Forum itself. For instance, said Kroes, there is certainly room for even more outreach.