80. Notes that the Arab Spring demonstrated how the new global information and communication architecture is not only creating new channels for freedom of expression but also enabling new forms of political mobilisation that bypass traditional methods; points out, in this context, that rural areas are often inadequately connected to modern communication technologies; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to harness the positive potential of the new technolog ...[+++]ies in EU foreign policy while stressing that only organised groups disposing of a clear and coherent political agenda shall be granted financial assistance; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to address the danger of internet censorship and repression; welcomes the launch, in December 2011, of the ‘No Disconnect Strategy’ to develop tools that allow the EU, in appropriate cases, to assist civil society organisations or individual citizens to circumvent arbitrary disruptions to access to electronic communications technologies, including the internet;

74. Notes that the Arab Spring demonstrated how the new global information and communication architecture is not only creating new channels for freedom of expression but also enabling new forms of political mobilisation that bypass traditional methods; points out, in this context, that rural areas are often inadequately connected to modern communication technologies; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to harness the positive potential of the new technolog ...[+++]ies in EU foreign policy while stressing that only organised groups disposing of a clear and coherent political agenda shall be granted financial assistance; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to address the danger of internet censorship and repression; welcomes the launch, in December 2011, of the ‘No Disconnect Strategy’ to develop tools that allow the EU, in appropriate cases, to assist civil society organisations or individual citizens to circumvent arbitrary disruptions to access to electronic communications technologies, including the internet;

3. Reminds the Commission of its duty of restraint in the negotiations within ICAO on protecting passenger data and biometric data in the light of the fact that the Court of Justice will shortly have to decide on the proceedings brought by the European Parliament regarding respect for fundamental rights in this field; warns the Commission against any manoeuvre which, by means of international negotiations, would seek to deprive the European Parliament's judicial and political action in this field of any practical effect; demands to be fully and regularly informed about the work of the New Technologies ...[+++] Working Group of the TAG (Technical Advisory Group) of ICAO;

Some of the standards groups that we are providing varying levels of contribution and leadership to are the National Institute of Standards Biometric Working Group; the Biometric Application Program Interface Steering Committee, approved by the American National Standards Institute; the International Committee for Information Technology Standards M1 Biometrics Standards Committee; and the International Standards Organization, wo ...[+++]rking with the Joint Technical Subcommittee 37; and also, ICAO, as was mentioned earlier, the International Civil Aviation Organization's New Technology Working Group that was formed a couple of years back.

26. Urges a major reform of infrastructures to allow access to Information Society technologies in all Member States to avoid the risk of a "two-speed Europe” and to promote economic and social cohesion among all the regions of the European Union, and calls on the Commission to consider Internet access to Information Society technologies in general as part of universal service provision; therefore asks the Commission to study the remaining regional access barriers in deta ...[+++]il and to put forward proposals as to when Internet access must be a part of universal service provision in all Member States,

- 2 - The new technologies, says the Commission in its working programme, represent both an opportunity and a challenge: an opportunity, because of the access to literary and artistic works and to information and data which they open up for individuals and businesses; and a challenge, because of the scope for large-scale and uncontrolled copying of ...[+++] works, with no proper return to the holders of the copyrights and neighbouring rights involved.