Brussels, 26/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The package of proposals presented by the European Commission on Wednesday 25 May for a digital single market was well received by most MEPs in a plenary session debate of the European Parliament on the same day.
In the main, MEPs welcomed the Commission proposals (see EUROPE 11558). Speaking for the ALDE Group, Dita Charanzova (Czech Republic) said the measures would help make Europe a leading player in the digital revolution. Hans-Olaf Henke (ECR, Germany), for once, called for “more Europe” on this issue. He said that the EU “is losing ground to the powerful Americans and Asians” in the digital sector. In the course of the debate, most MEPs were pleased, too, that there was no single approach to on line platforms. For Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D, Germany), this was essential since “platforms vary so widely that it is not possible to find a one-size-fits-all solution”. MEPs also called for greater transparency on the parcel delivery market so that EU nationals can really enjoy a European internal market. The proposal on geo-blocking, however, did not find universal support with Parliament, because of the link with copyright, an issue raised by Julia Reda (Greens/EFA, Germany).
After presenting the Commission's initiatives designed to make it easier for consumers and businesses to buy and sell goods and services online throughout the EU, Digital Single Market Commissioner Andrus Ansip said that these “necessary” measures really paved the way to the digital single market. Responding to the comments of MEPs, he said he realised that the final outcome of the legislative process would necessarily by a “compromise”. Nevertheless, he said that cooperation with the Parliament would be fruitful. (Original version in French by Maëlle Didion, intern)