YNOT EUROPE – Founded in April and approved by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Conseil National Numérique (National Digital Council) is a consultative body representing the new digital economy. The council provides advice to the government about all things digital.

Through its president Gilles Babinet, CNN so far has published four statements of intent:

1 – Encourage and support the digital through a favorable economic environment, so as to create skilled jobs that will be a source of economic strength for the nation.

2 – Support the establishment of artistic, entrepreneurial and technological businesses or citizens’ initiatives on the internet in a shared spirit of public interest.

3 – Develop digital learning opportunities so that all citizens may use the internet to train for careers in the digital realm.

4 – Respect freedom of expression and connection and provide better access to public data.

There is nothing revolutionary in the statements, so it is worth recalling the motivations for the council’s creation.

“My belief is that the internet is a boundless territory whose borders cannot be resolved solely by the law, regulation or authority, because (the borders) may at any moment be called into question by technological innovation and practice,” said Sarkozy, who confirmed his desire to see the council created to provide digital positions on issues affecting the wider web.

The government will consult CNN to review “any proposed legislation or regulation that may have an impact on the digital economy, so as to have light emanating from the [digital] industry,” Sarkozy said.

In a spirit of open dialogue, CNN is composed of 18 members, all of them internet professionals who aim to work openly with consumer groups, major national and international companies, developers and resident aliens in France.

CNN also will issue its own position papers about certain topics members believe deserve special attention whether or not the government intends to address the issues.

“The council is fairly liberal and open, so I don’t think we’ll see a dictatorship,” said council member and Rentabiliweb chief executive Jean-Baptiste Descroix-Vernier. “Neutrality is a fundamental principle of the web. The only limit to the dissemination of information must be criminal law, such as that directed at child pornography. Beyond that, in my opinion it would be dangerous to overstep. For me, the two important issues that we must address are neutrality and internet piracy.”

Another council member, Meetic chief executive Marc Simoncini, added, “I have campaigned for an e-business act that would facilitate the creation of companies in France. We’ll work on taxation and labor law to install a climate and the tools that will enable entrepreneurs to excel on the European and even global stage. After all, the internet increasingly is composed of people who get up in jeans at noon.”

Free chief Xavier Niel, who also sits on the council, said of CNN, “My company provides internet access, so this is very important for us.”