During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the European single market for electronic communications. Statements by Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Krisjānis KARINS (EPP, LV), Patrizia TOIA (S&amp;D, IT) and Vicky FORD (ECR, UK)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

del CASTILLO VERA, Pilar (EPP, ES)

roaming (T)

TOIA, Patrizia (S&D, IT)

KARIŅŠ, Krišjānis (EPP, LV)

ANSIP, Andrus (Renew, EE)

FORD, Vicky (ECR, UK)

European single market for electronic communications: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, We managed to set out the necessary guarantees so that all internet traffic, and I stress ALL internet traffic, is treated equally and that access to an open internet can be done under equal conditions, guaranteeing net neutrality.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, When it comes to roaming costs, they will be abolished from July 2017, and from April 2016 there will be a very considerable reduction in costs both for data and voice.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, With this agreement Europe will be the only region in the world which guarantees LEGALLY an open internet and net neutrality. The principle of net neutrality will be applied directly in the 28 member states and it will ensure that all traffic be treated equally without restriction, discrimination or interference.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, The joint effort has made possible it for us to guarantee an open and non-discriminatory internet and to take a huge forward towards a connected Europe and a single market without any kind of 'digital customs'.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Retail roaming surcharges will be significantly reduced from April next year and finally banned from 15 June 2017, subject to fair use policy. This is a historic achievement, and we could not have done it without the leading role of the Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, There is still a lot to do for the abolition of surcharges to be sustainable throughout the European Union. The wholesale roaming market has to be reviewed. The fair use policies and sustainability mechanism need to be defined. The Commission has started to work on this. We are committed to making the abolition of roaming surcharges a reality. There is no justification for any further delay.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Common rules on net neutrality mean that internet access providers cannot pick winners or losers on the internet, or decide which content and services are available. They mean that the freedom of Europeans to access or distribute internet content will not depend on the country where they are resident. This will increase consumer choice and competition, and strengthen the Digital Single Market.

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Kri&#353;j&#257;nis KARI&#325;&#352; (EPP, LV), By June 2017 we will also have a regulation of the wholesale prices so that the businesses providing these services to roaming clients will not suffer excessive damages and do not need to raise tariffs in order to compensate for that. This is indeed the case where the consumers win, businesses win, Council wins and the Parliament wins as well.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Patrizia TOIA (S&amp;D, IT), There are important legislative principles at stake which underpin the concept of net neutrality, all the elements are mentioned: non-discrimination, etc, and they are there crystal clear. But here where our legislation is already good, it needs to be optimised. So I ask you to be vigilant and to monitor that member states do remain vigilant, that they exercise the scrutiny that they must, and that there are sanctions in place because otherwise our acts and principles wont' see the light of day.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vicky FORD (ECR, UK), The new EU rules do guarantee net neutrality, users will be free to access content of their choice; it will not be blocked or slowed down. Access to start-up services will not be held back by a bigger company, there will be no 'two speed' Europe. Importantly, parental controls while permitted on a member state will be able to continue. This is to make our internet safe, accessible and affordable across Europe.