EU Political Party Positions on Internet Governance: Election 2024

As the 2024 EU elections approach, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) wants to help you better understand how the policies of the major European political parties align with the needs of those who build the infrastructure of the Internet. The i2Coalition is the leading voice for web hosting companies, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, managed services providers, and related technology. We have been monitoring the stances of major EU political parties and finding alignment on the issues that matter most to our members. 

This article is the third in a three-part series on how the i2Coalition’s mission and members fit into the EU election conversation. If your Internet infrastructure company is interested in getting more involved in shaping these discussions, please do not hesitate to contact our membership director at [email protected].

In this edition, we’ll explore how we believe Brussels should approach the issue of Internet governance, where EU law has a global impact.

The i2Coalition shares the vision of Renew Europe and the European Greens in advocating for Internet governance that preserves the multistakeholder model. The i2Coalition’s EU Digital Policy Manifesto provides a guide for Internet infrastructure providers and policymakers alike as we work together in addressing the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. It states that we will “Actively participate in the development of global Internet governance standards, balancing regional and global needs to ensure interoperability and consistency.” (This is indeed what we do, and we invite you to join us.)

Here is how the major parties in the 2024 EU election align with our stance on Internet governance:

• Renew Europe
  Renew Europe’s policy paper on Internet governance emphasizes the need to maintain one global interoperable Internet, arguing that this can be achieved only through the participation of all stakeholders in making the rules that underpin the Internet’s technical infrastructure. Renew Europe is explicitly committed to the multi-stakeholder model for managing the Internet.

• The European Greens
  ““Interoperability is key to successful digital policy,” reads page 22 of the European Greens’ manifesto. It continues: “The European Interoperability Framework is a good starting point, but it does not yet create a level-playing field. We will push to open standardization to developers, civil society and SMEs. Their involvement must be compensated so that everyone can equally participate in this process.

To see more of how the major EU parties’ stances on Internet infrastructure align with those of the companies that build our interconnected world, please read our two companion articles in this series:

• Protecting Fundamental Rights Online
• Preserving Online Privacy

Join Us in Shaping the Future of the Internet

The major policy areas that underpin our coalition—digital trade and Internet governance, privacy, encryption, cybersecurity, access to data, and intermediary liability—also form the cornerstones of a resilient and inclusive digital future. We seek to share our values in these areas in policy recommendations to ensure that Europe’s digital landscape thrives, innovates, and remains protected from threats that could compromise its potential. 

We invite all stakeholders in the Internet infrastructure industry to join our cause. Find out more on our website and contact our membership director at [email protected].