The single digital market strategy is starting to produce its first effects, as borne out by a report published by the European Commission just before the holidays. This document highlights the provisions that have changed or will be changing for consumers.
As in the past, roaming costs are prohibited, which means that citizens can use their mobile phones when they travel in the EU on exactly the same basis as in their own countries and will not incur any additional costs. Thanks to the new regulation on portability, which has been applicable since April 2018, Europeans will be able to fully benefit from their subscriptions to Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime, Spotify or even Deezer when they are travelling within the EU (see EUROPE 11804). The General Data Protection Regulation in application since 25 May 2018 means that it is imperative that Internet users' consent is obtained by a company before it is able to use the data of the users in question.
Other future important dates include: September this year, when Europeans will have increasing opportunities to use their national electronic ID (eID) in the Union to access public services; December, when rules on the free movement of non-personal data and geo-blocking will also be applicable. The first text prohibits unjustified data localisation, except for public security reasons. The second makes it compulsory for traders to make their goods and services accessible to all EU consumers free from discrimination in terms of access to prices, sales or payment conditions. In 2019, it will be the turn of the regulation on parcel deliveries to be applied which brings as much transparency as possible on prices (see EUROPE 12001), while international intra-EU calls will be capped as from 15 May 2019. In 2020 and 2021, rules will be introduced for the audio-visual domain (see EUROPE 12036) and electronic communications. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)