Liberals and Democrats secure key reforms to EU #DigitalSingleMarket rules

MEPs on the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee yesterday evening (2 October) adopted their position on proposed reforms to EU rules, last changed in 2009, that govern the provision of electronic communications, the 'European Electronic Communications Code'. 

Liberals and Democrat MEPs helped to secure a number of reforms to the framework in the Parliamentary Committee vote, which will ensure that the providers of electronic communication services that operate in more than one EU Member State will have the possibility to ask for a single authorisation in the country of its main establishment.

This will ensure that operators that are free to operate in the entire EU without being subject to different rules or reporting obligations.

Liberal and Democrat proposals, aimed at securing stronger safeguards to drive competition and provide a simpler regulatory and investment environment, were also adopted, which have the potential to provide national regulators with powers to promote investments by smaller market players.

Steps by MEPs to regulate intra-EU calls were also strongly supported by the ALDE Group, which will end unreasonable price differentiation and discrimination within the EU's telecommunications market.

Commenting after the vote, Kaja Kallas MEP, shadowing this legislation for the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, said: "The compromise adopted last night has the potential to deliver a functional digital single market within the European Union, with modernized rules that will help to deliver very high speed internet for all, in particular investments in 5G networks. With the rise of modern communication technologies available to our citizens, it is our job to ensure the right environment for innovation, competition, but also security of our citizens' communication.

"This is the first time we adopt, in European legislation, a clear ban on encryption backdoors, essential for security of communication services. I urge the governments of member states to respond ambitiously to our proposals in the negotiations ahead of us."

Share this article: