Brussels, 30/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 30 May, European Commissioner for the Digital Strategy Neelie Kroes called on MEPs to support her legislative efforts to create a genuinely European single digital market. In July or September next, she will propose a package of measures that she hopes to see adopted next year, which will definitively put a stop to mobile phone roaming charges and guarantee net neutrality.
Addressing MEPs at the IMCO committee as part of the regular structured dialogue with the European Parliament, she announced the adoption of a legislative package for the digital strategy and expressed the hope that the European Parliament would support her in her efforts, particularly with regard to roaming charges. The Commissioner has often said that these charges are an aberration in the single market. Roaming is the surcharge added by operators for using mobiles, smart phones and tablets abroad. The goal is to ensure that the package is adopted by the EP and the Council around Easter time 2014, before the European elections. Kroes insisted that “I want you to be able to go back to your constituents and say that you were able to end mobile roaming costs… Markets must function, devices must function, networks must function and investment needs to happen… we can't afford today's countless, needless, artificial obstacles placed in the way”. The commissioner's spokesman, Ryan Heath, said that this approach is crucial for Europe's credibility, to regain the trust and support of its citizens who are bogged down in the economic crisis. He added that this constituted a rallying cry to MEPs to continue to work on this issue until the European elections of 2014, so that they can greet the voters with such important news. (IL/transl.fl)