Brussels, 08/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Telecommunications Council on Tuesday 13 December will reach conclusions on the open internet and net neutrality in Europe, and radio spectrum policy. The other points will be the subject of a progress report by the Polish Presidency. Ministers will also take stock of the state of play as regards the draft regulation on a modernised mandate for the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), and a draft roaming regulation.
Radio spectrum. After talks conducted in trialogue, the text for a draft decision relating to a first radio spectrum policy programme was drafted. Such a programme should guarantee the correct functioning of the internal market in areas that use the spectrum such as electronic communication, research, technological development, space, transport, energy and audiovisual. The programme should establish policy guidelines for this, as well as objectives for strategic and harmonious use of the radio spectrum.
These objectives will, among other things, aim at making the use of the spectrum more effective, making at least 1200 Mhz of spectrum available by 2015, and ensuring access to broadband of a speed of over 30 Mbps for all citizens by 2020. The Parliament is expected to approve the Council's position on this during the first quarter of 2012. It is planned that the Commission will examine application of the programme by the end of 2015.
Open and neutral internet. European ministers responsible for telecommunications are also expected to approve conclusions further to the Commission's communication on an open internet and on net neutrality, published in April this year. Generally speaking, the preliminary text welcomes the Commission's approach, but also calls for the difference between speed of internet connection announced and that truly accessible in member states to be verified by 2012. Complementary information is also requested on the subject of best practice for traffic management and on ways to meet the demands of global service providers with regards to quality and pricing of services.
Roaming. After a presentation of the state of progress made on a draft roaming regulation, member states will be invited to present their points of view on the matter, as the current regulation comes to an end at the end of June 2012. Prices must be brought down for consumers and competition on the market must be intensified for this.
ENISA. The Polish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers is also expected to present a progress report on another draft regulation concerning ENISA, with a view to modernising the agency, suggesting a new five year mandate. This limit would be the only point of difference between delegations, some being in favour of an unlimited mandate.
Finally, under “miscellaneous”, the European Commission will present its recently proposed mechanism for the interlinking of Europe, aimed at greater integration of European infrastructure, including telecommunications infrastructure. (MD/transl.jl)