Brussels, 14/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - Building consumers' trust in online goods and services, improving infrastructure and promoting innovation are keys to unlocking the potential of the EU digital single market, which could generate €415 billion each year. This is the thrust of the Internal Market (IMCO) and Industry (ITRE) committee MEPs' contribution during a debate on Tuesday 13 October. Several MEPs also underlined the need to ensure net neutrality and avoid unnecessary red tape.
The debate was organised after publication of the draft report by rapporteurs Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D, Germany), for the Internal Market Committee, and Kaja Kallas (ALDE, Estonia), for the Industry Committee, which sets out Parliament's response to the Digital Single Market Strategy presented by the EU Commission on 6 May (see EUROPE 11309). Gebhardt emphasised that an holistic approach is needed for meeting all the different challenges brought to light by the digital market strategy. The different issues raised by the MEP include how they should frame online purchases; put a stop to geo-blocking and ensure that digital platforms respect fair competition. Kaja Kallas highlighted the fact that it was imperative for companies to make the digital transition and the importance of providing them with the keys for making this transition. She added that consumers also needed a clear strategy so that they could adapt to the new digital environment in total confidence.
Several MEPs then spoke. Henna Virkkunen (EPP, Finland) said that they needed to ensure that there was a much more extensive choice of cross-border services that they should invest in infrastructure and broadband and make plans for new trading models. She indicated that the more traditional sectors should modernise and open up to digital. Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (S&D, Finland) highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure and said that Europe could become a digital pioneer. The Shadow Rapporteur for IMCO, Vicky Ford (ECR, United Kingdom) mentioned the need to build trust in the E-commerce environment, as well as ensure payment security and citizens' rights in the digital market. Dita Charanzová (ALDE, Czech Republic) said that they had to develop a solid framework for the digital market and warned against the dangers of overregulation that could harm the development of digital goods and services. She added that they had to put a stop to the barriers that still existed and to geo-blocking. Cornelia Ernst (GUE, Germany) affirmed the need for introducing rules when they were necessary and ensuring respect for fundamental rights. She highlighted the need to guarantee neutral Internet access. Julia Reda (Greens, Germany) strongly regretted the lack of clarity given in the definition of the “platforms”. She said that this was a catchall term that confused online services and online service providers and that they needed to make more of a distinction before thinking of introducing regulation. David Borrelli (EFDD, Italy) said that citizens should be the centre of the digital single market and that the market should be developed with this in mind.
The report by MEPs Gebhardt and Kallas is expected to go to a vote during the joint meeting of the internal market and industry committees on 14 December and by the European Parliament as a whole in its plenary session in January 2016. (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)