1 - The members of ECIA, the European Council of Information Associations, convened in London on 26 March 1996 for a seminar on intellectual property and copyright. They expressed their keenest interest in this subject and its impact on the development of their professional activities. They unanimously considered the existence of freedom of information and the protection of related rights as an essential factor for their profession and its development.
2 - They have made the decision to prepare and circulate a statement formally setting out the common position of the ECIA members with regard to the freedom of information, copyright and the associated rights. This statement was approved by ECIA members, meeting in Madrid on October 28, 1996.
3 - The ECIA members call the attention of political, social, cultural and economical decision makers on the importance of the flow of information which is essential for the competitiveness of firms, the quality of cultural and social life and the developments of democracy. Consequently, they are firmly opposed to any constraints on the free flow of information which could not be economically or morally justified or could be founded on the views of one party only.
4 - As representatives of the interests of more than 15,000 professional users of information and documentation in Europe, the members of ECIA ask that, in the future, their views be given greater weight in the process of establishing new regulations or statutory agreements dealing with the right of information.
5 - The ECIA members ask that their position on this subject be considered by the European Commission at the earliest opportunity. They would like ECIA and its member associations, as representatives of professional users of information, to be members of any group or committee set up to deal with the right of information, particularly as the Commission is in an ongoing process of consultation and legislation within the fields of copyright and database rights.
6 - Furthermore, the ECIA members request the same attention from any international organizations that are dealing with modifications of existing international agreements on copyright issues.
7 - The members of ECIA furthermore decided to continue to exchange information, ideas and national experiences on the subject and to look thoroughly into the fundamental question of the freedom of information and related rights. Particular attention will be paid to the problems arising from the development of electronic networks.
Madrid, October28, 1996