In December 2005, DG Environment launched an eight-week Internet consultation on measures to reach the EU’s goal of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. As a follow-up to a broad stakeholder review held from 2004 to 2005, the process gave the general public and experts an additional opportunity to participate online.
The results showed agreement with the 10 highlighted challenges (e.g. increasing “earmarked” funding) and responses (e.g. raising public awareness), not to mention a high level of satisfaction with the online questionnaire. However, 9 percent complained the questionnaire gave no opportunity to explain their responses or suggest alternative challenges or responses. In short, the survey offered a structured means of rubber-stamping the EC’s shortlisted priorities and fell short of being a true two-way consultation.
UNESCO currently hosts an online consultation, planning for the multi-stakeholder implementation of the action plan of the World Summit on the Information Society. It invites reaction from global stakeholders on various action lines and posts these online for others to read. Although it will take more time for UNESCO to analyse the results, it gives participants greater freedom of speech.
DG Environment and other political institutions increasingly use the Web to listen to their constituents and discuss political initiatives and local developments. However, it remains to be seen whether online consultation represents a new paradigm for open governance. Some argue the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly the Internet, contributes to an increasingly fragmented civil society characterised by lower voter turnout and indifference to government.
On the other hand, it may also be the catalyst for a “new” civil society, as noted as early as 2004 by the European Commission’s (EC) Joint Research Centre. People use ICTs more and more in their everyday lives and most civil society organisations use them. Online communities flourish around countless topics not just locally but inter-entity (e.g. in Kosovo/a) and transnationally. The Internet enables loosely organised and decentralised forms of commitment and participation. It is informal, low key, easily accessible and carries fewer obligations than in the real world. So, as is argued by Pippa Norris, Director of the Democratic Governance Group at the United Nations Development Program (www.pippanorris.com), the transition to the Internet seems to be altering ways of doing things — like lobbying, communication and organising — thereby subtly tipping the balance of power and resources among intermediary political actors.
Will online consultations replace other forms of consultation? “No,” argues the EC at its interactive policy making web portal called “Your Voice in Europe” <europa.eu.int/yourvoice>. “This new form of consultation will be complementary to the traditional forms of consultation, such as written responses to a White Paper. Online consultations add a new and important dimension, but are one of a range of tools … to increase stakeholders’ involvement in the policy-making process.”
The statistics from the online biodiversity consultation show that the Internet helps involve concerned stakeholders of all ages in political initiatives, particularly those who would not have had the chance to participate in the broadbased stakeholder review. Secondly, the fact that 26 countries contributed is no small feat, including two accession countries. The only surprise was the absence of Estonia. That Internet-besotted country has earned the nickname e-Estonia.
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