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