Updating the telecommunications framework is looking rather problematic at the European Parliament. This impression was created by the first discussions held on Wednesday 22 March at the industry, research and energy committee meeting at the Parliament.
It should be pointed out that the European Commission proposed a modernisation of telecommunications rules in September 2015. The last time these rules were modified was in 2009 (see EUROPE 11624). They are supposed to ensure the following in the period leading up to 2025: (1) access to very high speeds for businesses; (2) access to at least 100 Mbit/per second for European households; (3) and uninterrupted 5G cover in all urban areas and main road axes.
Its initiative is based around two proposals: - a directive on the communications code (recasting of the framework directive, “authorisation” directive, “access” directive and the “universal service” directive and; - a regulation on the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).
During the exchange of views, MEPs particularly clashed on the issue of BEREC governance. The ECR, of which rapporteur Evžen Tošenovský (Czech Republic) is a member, and ALDE, are refusing to convert the regulators’ body and its offices based in Riga into a Union agency, as proposed by the Commission. They also benefit from the support of the BEREC and a vast majority of member states, including Germany.
Speaking on behalf of the S&D group, Constanze Krehl (S&D, Germany), the group backed the Commission and explained, “We need to adapt BEREC’s governance particularly because we need to reduce bureaucracy and increase transparency”. Similarly to her colleagues, she did, however, recognise that respect for BEREC’s autonomy, was crucial.
With regard to recasting the telecoms framework, MEPs praised the Commission’s approach to encourage investment by way of greater predictability. On the other hand, they were divided over the question of how to achieve this aim. Rapporteur, Pilar Del Castillo Vera (EPP, Spain), is proposing, for example, to extend the duration of licenses from 25 years, as proposed by the Commission, to 30 years. She is, however, refusing to extend the intervals between each market access and believes that the maximum period should be three years and not five years as suggested by the Commission.
The rapporteur on this question did not receive the support of Kaja Kallas (ALDE, Estonia) or that of Michel Reimon (Green/EFA, Austria) and Evžen Tošenovský (ECR, Czech Republic) on the extension of licensing periods.
Amendments to the 'Tošenovský' Report can be submitted up until 30 March. These will be analysed until 11 May, before being put to a vote during the Parliamentary committee on 11 July. The date for submitting amendments to the 'Del Castillo Vera' report has been set for 15 April. The date of the vote is not yet known. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)