Europe: No Agreement on Telecoms Reform Package
A user’s Internet access cannot be restricted without prior ruling by the judicial authorities, the European Parliament (EP) insisted on 6 May. This could throw the telecoms reform package into jeopardy.
The EP does agree with the Council on investments in new communications infrastructure, the reform of radio spectrum use, clear consumer rights and privacy protection.
MEPs amended a political agreement reached with the Council on the reform of the regulatory framework for electronic communications – including mobile and fixed telephones, broadcasting, wireless and fixed internet.
The telecom package includes the much debated revision of the electronic communications framework, the citizens’ rights directive and the establishment of a new European body of telecom regulators called BEREC.
While Parliament and Council do agree on the citizens’ right directive and the establishment of a new European body of telecom regulators (BEREC), the EP amended the compromise reached with Council on the framework directive. Since all three proposals are interlinked, it is likely that the whole package will go to conciliation.
Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner, welcomed the EP’s endorsement of the telecoms package, but added, “Now the ball is in the court of the Council of Telecoms Ministers to decide whether or not to accept this package of reforms. There was one amendment voted by the Parliament (…) that was not included in the initial deal agreed between the three EU institutions.”
Ms. Reding stated that the amendment is an important restatement of the fundamental rights of EU citizens and that it is of very high symbolic and political value for many people.
She called on the Council of Ministers to assess the situation carefully, “also in the light of the importance of the telecoms reform for the sector and for the recovery of our European economy.”
“The Telecoms Council on 12 June should be used for a political discussion on whether agreement on the package is still possible or whether the discussion will have to start again with the new European Parliament in autumn”, Ms. Reding said.
Source: EP, EC
Read the full EP press release.
Read the full EC press release.
See also: EU parliament blocks telecoms reforms (Financial Times – registration required).
Also noteworthy: ETNO strongly regrets blockage of telecoms package”.
Related: “Internet has to be free, but not regulation free”.
