The European Commission (EC) is a step closer to having its telecoms single market (TSM) package adopted after a parliamentary committee approved the latest draft, paving the way for parliament approval in early April.
Only weeks ago it had been unclear…
The European Commission (EC) is a step closer to having its telecoms single market (TSM) package adopted after a parliamentary committee approved the latest draft, paving the way for parliament approval in early April.
Only weeks ago it had been unclear if the current parliament would be able to vote on the package before European elections in May.
Thirty members of the European Parliament’s Industry and Research Committee (ITRE) voted in favour of the draft, 12 voted against it and 14 abstained.
The ITRE had been set to take the vote in February, but postponed it for what it described as procedural reasons concerning translations.
ITRE committee member Pilar del Castillo Vera, who leads the parliament’s work on the package, described the vote as “one great step towards consolidating the telecommunications single market”.
“The committee has not only proposed abolishing retail roaming charges for voice, SMS and data by 15 December 2015, but also tabled substantive proposals, for example on efficient spectrum management, that will allow 4G and 5G deployment throughout Europe,” she said. “Moreover, we have built in further safeguards for internet openness by ensuring that users can run and provide applications and services of their choice as well as strengthening the internet as a key driver of competitiveness, economic growth, social development and innovation.”
Telecoms commissioner Neelie Kroes described the vote as “great news”, adding that the package is about ensuring European telcos have the tools and networks they need to innovate, grow and be competitive, while also protecting consumers.
The whole parliament is set to vote on the package at the 2-3 April plenary session. Meanwhile, EU member states are discussing it in the European Council and will continue to do so while the parliament is in recess for the elections in May.
While the EC had initially hoped the package would be agreed to ahead of the elections, it is now targeting the end of 2014.
A spokesperson for Kroes said her team has known for a long time that there would not be negotiations on the TSM package before the elections. She explained that once the new parliamentary term begins in July and the council is sure of its position on the package, the three institutions will be able to negotiate.
“We can [then] begin the trialogues, or three-way negotiations between parliament, council and commission to reach a final agreed text.”
Elements of the TSM package, first proposed in September 2013, have generated strong criticism from European telcos and lobby groups.
Earlier this month, mobile operators association GSMA sent a letter endorsed by the CEOs of numerous European telcos setting out what they believe to be the key elements needed to develop a single European telecoms market that will drive growth. The operators called for simpler, more even-handed regulation that supports consolidation, arguing that this is needed to improve the investment climate and Euorpean telcos’ global competitiveness.
At the time, a spokesperson for Kroes said that implementing the EC’s TSM package will begin to address these concerns.
Meanwhile, a day after the GSMA letter was sent, European antitrust commissioner Joaquin Almunia once again warned of the anti-competitive effects telecoms mergers could have in national markets.
