Connected continent: ambitious reform package for Europe’s telecoms market

The European Commission has come up with regulatory proposals to complete the EU’s single market for telecoms and to create a more digitally interconnected Europe.

ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the telecommunications single market (COM(2013) 634 final of 11.9.2013 - not published in the Official Journal)

SUMMARY

The overarching aim of these proposals is to build a connected and competitive continent where consumers can benefit from digital services and European businesses and entrepreneurs can create the jobs of the future.

The Commission takes the view that all economic sectors increasingly depend on good Internet connectivity to be competitive and that the solution therefore lies in harnessing the potential of information and communications technology (ICT) in the EU’s single market.

The proposals would make a reality of two key EU Treaty principles: the freedom to provide and to consume telecoms services wherever one is in the EU.

A competitive telecoms sector fit for the future

The proposals aim at developing a dynamic, healthy and competitive telecoms sector, fit to face the future. They will push the telecoms sector fully into the Internet data-centric age, offering incentives for cross-border operations, new business models and more investment in infrastructures and in new, innovative services.

Open Internet, end of roaming charges and better consumer protection

The proposals would:

• ensure the openness of the Internet, guaranteeing end-users’ freedom to access and distribute information and content, run applications and use services of their choice;
• end surcharges paid so far by consumers while using their phone abroad in the EU;
• give consumers contracts in clear and plain language with more comparable information and give them more rights to switch provider or contract.

New jobs

However, the proposals do not concern the telecoms sector alone. A single market in telecoms will benefit the broader economy because each economic sector today increasingly depends on good connectivity to be competitive. This package should therefore bring about a major contribution to innovation, growth and jobs in Europe’s economy at large.

The proposals would enable the creation of long-term jobs, throughout the economy, and in particular in the digital sector, characterised by a very young workforce. In addition, the Commission also suggests working with companies in a grand coalition for digital skills and jobs in order to help combat youth unemployment in Europe.

Last updated: 15.05.2014