Brussels, 28/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - During an exchange of views with MEPs from the European Parliament's Culture and Education Committee on Monday 27 April in Strasbourg, the European Commission Vice President responsible for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, confirmed that he sought to put an end to geo-blocking as part of copyright reform, so that digital content could circulate throughout the European Union.
Ansip stated: “Yes, I do see an end to geo-blocking. Our citizens must be able to benefit from cross-border content access… Which forms a part of genuine portability”. The Commission VP highlighted the many different business models in the European Union and acknowledged that putting an end to geo-blocking would take time, “but I think we will get there”. The Vice President also briefly alluded to the question of piracy, broadband for all and radio spectrum. He also broached the question of revising the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AMS directive).
Copyright: Andrus Ansip said that putting a stop to geo-blocking did not mean ending the principle of territoriality but rather, opposing territorial exclusivity. He explained that getting rid of geo-blocking “does not mean that we are wanting to destroy this principle of territoriality. It does not mean that after this reform there will only be pan-European licenses. If, for example, in a smaller member state, film producers are expecting that the interest to buy those rights of the films is only in the neighbouring member states, this will be acceptable. There is no need to sell pan-European licenses, no need to buy pan-European licenses”. Ansip claimed that in the European Union they currently had “a lose-lose situation” but that they needed a system that paid creators in all countries and which benefited cultural diversity.
Cyber security: Ansip pointed out that trialogue discussions on the network and information security directive were on the right track and that once this directive was adopted, “we will have a good basis for tackling cybercrime”. He underlined the importance of cooperation between member states so that they could nip cybercrime in the bud, which proved possible in Estonia in 2007.
Piracy: He said that this was a “major problem” that cross-border access to cultural works would help resolve. He also said that consumers were prepared to pay to ensure that cultural works were appropriately remunerated but that they did not currently have this opportunity because content portability is not yet ensured.
Broadband for all: In reply to a question from one MEP regarding the imbalance between member states providing broadband cover, Ansip referred to a study carried out by McKinsey consultants according to which, 10% more broadband would create a 1.3% rise in GDP, “there is a strong correlation between broadband and growth in GDP. We therefore have to help create a broadband network in rural and low population density areas”.
Radio spectrum: Ansip said that they needed greater cooperation between member states to ensure the harmonisation needed for spectrum radio. He also referred to the difficulty of managing Megahertz 700 frequency, which was important for broadcasting terrestrial digital television and which was also used by the defence sector in some member states but which was still difficult to harmonise.
AMS Directive: The vice president said that he still wanted a proposal to revise the directive to be presented this year, “we will examine the material and geographic scope. We will see what are its linear and non-linear aspects… The measures to protect the creative works of Europeans and young people”. With regard to the principle of the country of origin, which underpins the current directive, Ansip would like greater legal security and a reduction in costs. (Isabelle Lamberty)