Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-03-13-Speech-2-431-000"
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"en.20120313.20.2-431-000"2
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"Madam President, honourable Members, Commissioner, in a world where the Internet has become a basic tool in almost all parts of our lives, including political life, the way it is used and its impact on societies and individuals is of increasing interest to us all. Frankly, it is hard to imagine a world without the Internet and the Internet constitutes a vital tool when it comes to exchange of information.
Today’s debate is very important, touching upon two of the most fundamental principles of the European Union: freedom of expression and non-discrimination in an open and secure Europe. As the Presidency, we are very much aware of the concerns of this Parliament when it comes to the possible misuse of Internet sites and of the specific reasons which have led this debate to be placed on your agenda this week.
I believe that while discussing this issue, we must distinguish between law and politics and, legally speaking, it goes without saying that there is freedom of expression in Europe. It is a cornerstone in our democracy and must be cherished. It is clearly stated in the Charter and the Council of Europe’s Convention on Human Rights that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the right to hold opinions and receive and impart information and ideas.
I need not remind you that, according to Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union, the Union shall accede to the Convention on Human Rights. This debate also relates to the principle of free movement of workers, which is a pillar of the European Union. However, freedom of expression is not equivalent to the right to express anything about everyone. Freedom of expression should be exercised within a certain framework in order to protect other fundamental rights. So, establishing this framework can be brought about by legal remedies in national legal orders and, to some extent, also at EU level.
Politically speaking however, I want to make it quite clear that I and the Danish Presidency condemn any form of discrimination. The Council also cherishes the principle of non-discrimination and all activities of the Councils are carried out in respect of this fundamental principle.
I hope you will understand that my comments this afternoon are necessarily brief and limited in scope. That is because the Council has neither discussed nor adopted a position on the issue of government reactions to Internet sites which raise questions concerning discrimination. As far as any specific comments this Parliament has in relation to reactions from any particular Member State, it is not for me representing the Council as a whole to take a view on this issue.
However, finding the right balance between freedom of expression and non-discrimination is a very important task and I very much look forward to hearing your views on this issue."@en1
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