Parliament goes online in bid to cut paper work

Date: 28/11/1996

THE information technology revolution is reaching MEPs as political groups establish web sites on the Internet and the European Parliament finalises plans to open its own state-of- the-art information centre in Brussels next year.

The Socialists became the latest political group to harness the possibilities of the three-year-old World Wide Web when they launched their own site this month.

The initiative is designed to improve communication with three distinct categories of user.

“It helps preserve and enhance the group's corporate image by making basic information available to the public. It is also designed for members to be able to access documents when on the move and will help to keep national parties up to date with the work of the Parliament,” explained one senior official.

The Liberal Group already has its own web site and the European People's Party is considering going down the same route early next year once it has digested the findings of various feasibility studies it has commissioned.

These individual programmes will be complemented by the Parliament's own proposals to open a high-tech information centre in its Brussels premises next September.

Baptised the EPiCENTRE, the new data hub will be housed at the very heart of the parliamentary complex and available to MEPs and their staff.

The general public will not be allowed into the centre, but will have access to most facilities, including all past and present parliamentary documents in all languages, via the Internet.

The idea of setting up a comprehensive information centre emerged after a parliamentary visit to the US library of congress.

“We have tried to take the best bits from national parliaments and put them into a European context. MEPs are away from Brussels so much that the system will help them access information wherever they are. What members and staff want is access to information without having to go to a library,” explained one official.

Many hope that the online computer service will cut down on the mountain of paper that flows through the institution and might even reduce the number of tin trunks stuffed with documents which are taken by lorry to and from Strasbourg plenary sessions every month.

Although the EPiCENTRE is on track to be inaugurated on 1 September, it is unlikely to be fully operational until after the June 1999 European elections.

As new technology increasingly makes its presence felt in the Parliament, changes will inevitably occur in its internal working culture. Pressure will also grow on the institution and on political groups to make sure that access to the computerised data is mutually compatible.

“We must ensure that all members of the orchestra play in tune. Everyone wants to develop their own thing, but we must have harmony,” said one official.