Hungarian Parliament votes for closing digital divide
On the 6 of October, 2008 the two parliamentary resolutions about solving the e-Inclusion problem passed (there were 368 votes for and 0 against) in the Hungarian Parliament. The Parliament established the Temporary e-Inclusion Committee (until May of 2010), defined its tasks and adopted a declaration about the basic principles of dealing with e-Inclusion issue.
The declaration is outstanding for there are no other EU member states where the Parliament assumes to support disadvantaged people with such a declaration. The Hungarian Parliament is the first which adopted an e-Inclusion declaration aiming at reducing digital divide, spreading digital literacy and urging equal opportunity in the information society.
Szavazás 2008. október 6.
All Parliamentary Parties agreed with the e-Inclusion initiative.
All Parties of the Hungarian Parliament [Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) and Young Democrats - Hungarian Civic Party (Fidesz-MPP), Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP)] demonstrated their commitment to the e-Inclusion issue. Peter Márfai (Socialist Party), chairman of the Informatics Subcommittee of the Parliament, called for establishment of a 5 parties committee aiming at the contribution of e-Inclusion, reducing digital gap and realising digital equal opportunity in Hungary.
Megállapodás 2008. január 8.
On the 5 party’s meeting, held on the 8 January 2008, representatives of the parliamentary parties agreed that rising of living standard through digital equal opportunity is a common interest. After harmonising the texts of the declarations the final drafts were presented at the Parliament in October, 2008.
Final drafts of the declarations (in Hungarian):
Egységes javaslat a zárószavazásához az e-Befogadásról, a Magyarországon kialakult informatikai szakadék csökkentése érdekében című H/5332. sz. határozati javaslat zárószavazásához (Recommendation for e-Inclusion aiming at closing the digital divide No. H/5332. declaration proposal for final voting.)
Országgyűlési Határozat az “e-Befogadásügyi eseti bizottság a magyarországi digitális szakadék csökkentéséért ” létrehozásáról (Parliamentary Declaration on establishing the e-Inclusion Parliamentary Committee aiming at closing the digital divide in Hungary)
Content of these documents:
- the year 2008 must be dedicated to the e-Inclusion in Hungary,
- It is needed to establish an e-Inclusion Temporary Parliamentary Committee by 1 November, 20008. The e-Inclusion Temporary Parliamentary Committee will support and coordinate the actions of the e-Inclusion movement, and deliver the “i2010” which is a comprehensive strategy for modernising and deploying all EU policy instruments to encourage the development of the digital economy,
- Rising of living standard through digital equal opportunity are common interest,
- Halving digital gap is not only EU’s undertake but national aim because the digital gap in Hungary is higher than the average of the EU. It is common interest to lower it,
- It is necessary to find the possibility to involve the e-Inclusion issue to the New Hungary Development Plan
- It is necessary to draw distinction between the tasks that should be done by the government and that are more doable by NGOs and enterprises. Furthermore it is necessary to work out the governmental support for the activities of NGOs.
The e-Inclusion Temporary Parliamentary Committee has established. Its first meeting will be held on the middle of October, 2008. Its mandate expires in May, 2010.
Gabor Dombi
secretary general
Inforum
+ 36 20 9 544 176
