After studying the votes of the french MEPs, Squaring the Net analyzed the vote of the April 10, 2008 by country, crossed with the NRI index. It is obvious that the french graduated response project, initiated by Nicolas Sarkozy, was rejected by the countries the most able to adapt to the digital economy.
The NRI (Networked Readiness Index) measures the ability of a nation to embrace the digital age, out of economic, environmental and usage data. It is established by INSEAD in partnership with the World Economic Forum . 127 countries are studied each year.
The study clearly shows that MEPs of the best ranked countries have overwhelmingly rejected graduated response (ie they have voted for both parts of the Bono/Fjellner amendment).
- 8 countries out of the european top 10 have condemned the french project.
- Among the front runners, MEPs of 4 European countries ranked in the world top 10 have rejected this project, the first three with a vote over 80%.
- In contrast, 7 out of the 10 least ranked European countries by the World Economic Forum refused to reject it.
- In fine, on the 12 countries that refused to reject the french project, 10 have an NRI lower than France (ranked 21st in the world).
This study is available in english and in french and is freely redistributable. Squaring the Net calls upon french citizens to send it to their MPs and senators to raise awareness on the issues, and the fact that countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, among others, would never follow France in its regressive path. It is a matter of safeguarding their competitiveness in the information society.
With the upcoming French presidency of the European Union, french parliamentarians would even more worry some of our European partners, if they did not take into account the overwhelming rejection of the french model expressed by MEPs. 94% of them finally voted on the rejecting resolution.