Brussels, 19/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - While the US is enshrining net neutrality in its legislation (this will guarantee that all users have equal Internet access to all online services), Europe has taken a step backwards, according to S&D MEP Marc Tarabella, from Belgium, speaking on Thursday 19 February.
In a press release, he regretted the fact that “certain national governments in Europe are echoing the telecom lobbies and are blocking the application of genuine net neutrality in Europe, as well as preventing the removal of roaming costs. The MEP pointed out that the European Parliament position in favour of net neutrality was quite clear and denounced the on-going attempts at the Council of Ministers to limit this neutrality.
Tarabella criticised the fact that some governments were effectively advocating a “differentiated” Internet that allowed for additional services to be proposed for a higher fee or were proposing to allow access and service providers to haggle with content providers. He believes that this is “a serious infringement of the non-discrimination principle”.
Although the EP voted to end roaming costs by 15 December 2015, the operators are putting pressure on the member states to block the proposal. Tarabella concluded “We still have to mobilise to ensure that citizens are not sacrificed on the altar of governmental logic or the pursuit of profit for a few big companies”. Although the EP submitted its opinion on the “connected continent” package in April 2014, the Council has still not adopted its position. It is expected to do so before the summer under the Latvian presidency. (Isabelle Lamberty)