Brussels, 07/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - The development of the single market, particularly the digital market, constitutes one of the four priority policies of the new Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU. By the end of the year, Bratislava is due to head the discussions at the Council on 16 different areas listed in the European agenda for the digital single market.
Slovakia is expected to complete two dossiers during its mandate: the decision on the reorganisation of spectrum radio and the regulation on cross-border portability, both of which should be the subject of negotiations with the European Parliament over the next six months. The text grants “golden frequencies” (694-790 MHz) to mobile telephone services from 2020 or 2022 at the latest and will ensure access to traditional television services at lower wavebands 700 MHz (470-694 MHz) up to 2030 (EUROPE 11559). The second dossier should enable consumers with subscriptions to online content, such right holders to this kind of content in their countries of residence to access it when they are temporarily in another EU country (EUROPE 11577).
During the course of its mandate, Slovakia will attempt to make progress in the discussions at the Council on a variety of proposals. According to its work programme, it will attempt to obtain a political agreement of principle on the draft regulation on unfair geoblocking, which will compel operators to sell in the same way as they do in their home countries, without discrimination on access to prices, sales or payment conditions (EUROPE 11558). The same applies to the draft regulation on parcel deliveries, which introduces measures that seek to increase price transparency and improve the monitoring of price regulation. Finally, the Slovak Presidency has indicated that it is also seeking to reach a general approach at the Council, indeed a compromise with the Parliament on retail roaming price ceilings (EUROPE 11573). It has also set out the objective of reaching a political agreement at the Council on the draft revision of the directive on audiovisual media services, which introduces greater flexibility in advertising and attempts to create a more level playing field between traditional media and new platforms.
All eyes are now on the European Commission, which still has to present a raft of initiatives according to its single digital market agenda. Among these initiatives, we can highlight the second package on copyright and the revision of the telecommunications framework planned for 21 September. There are also initiatives on the free movement of data, the revision of the directive on the protection of private life, VAT systems and intellectual property rights, planned for November 2016.
It should be pointed out that only the conclusions so far announced by the Slovak Presidency involve the 2016-20 action plan for online administration, following a Commission communication on this subject (EUROPE 11535).
Agenda:
- 18 & July: informal meeting of ministers in charge of Competitiveness in Bratislava.
- 29 September: Brussels Competitiveness Council. The collaborative economy will be on the agenda.
- 13 &14 October: Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg, focusing on online purchases; tangible goods and digital content will be on the agenda.
- 28 & 29 November: Brussels Competitiveness Council, particularly focusing on the second copyright package and unfair geo-blocking.
- 2 December: Brussels Telecoms Council. On the agenda: retail roaming market, parcel delivery, telecoms framework, spectrum, data circulation, platforms and Internet governance.
- 8 & 9 December: Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council, focusing on online purchases. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)