GOI EXPECTS NEW EU INTERNET GOVERNANCE PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001383 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 TAGS: ECPS ETRD ECON EINT ETTC EI SUBJECT: GOI EXPECTS NEW EU INTERNET GOVERNANCE PROPOSAL FOR WSIS REF: STATE 196384 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 ( B) and (D). (C) On November 9, Post discussed the EU internet governance proposal for WSIS with Aidan Ryan, Deputy Director for Business and Technology Communications in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR). Ryan, who will attend WSIS with DCMNR Secretary General Brendan Tuohy, said that he expected a modified EU proposal to emerge from the November 9 COREPER discussions and from a planned evening meeting for Member State representatives in Tunis on November 13. Ryan highlighted Part 64 of the original proposal, which aimed to establish "international government involvement at the level of principles" regarding internet functions overseen by ICANN. He said that the United States and other parties had misinterpreted this language to imply "control," whereas Ireland viewed "involvement" as "input." He believed that the modified EU proposal would clarify the Commission's intent, and he stressed that the EU had not aimed to align with such countries as China that sought mechanisms of internet control. Ryan elaborated that Ireland had, in fact, shaped the language in Part 63 emphasizing that the EU model for cooperation "should not replace existing mechanisms or institutions, but should build upon the existing structures of internet governance." When Emboff asked why Ireland had seen the need for the EU's proposed "cooperation model," Ryan cited GOI concerns that Department of Commerce authorization for ICANN modifications to the root zone file functioned effectively as a veto. Emboff cited ref A points that such authorization was a technical verification process, not a political approval. KENNY