Even as the European Commission’s recent ‘White Paper’ on the future of telecommunications is due to be discussed by communications ministers at an informal meeting on Thursday 11 April, several Member States are sceptical about the idea of deregulating the sector.
According to Euronews, which has access to a diplomatic report, seven member states, including Italy, Germany and Sweden, have expressed doubts about the need for the future measures outlined in the ‘White Paper’.
They believe that the proposals, which aim to harmonise the market at European level and ease the conditions for companies to operate throughout the Union, are not necessarily needed given the current state of the sector.
The White Paper discusses extending the scope of current EU telecoms rules to “ensure a level playing field”.
However, according to our information, some countries fear that relaxing the rules governing access to networks and competition will have the opposite effect, with negative repercussions on supply and European competitiveness. Several Member States are even questioning the need for a ‘White Paper’ at all.
The informal meeting on Thursday and Friday should enable the EU27 to prepare the conclusions to be adopted at the end of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council on 21 May. The most critical Member States do not wish to see any mention of the ‘White Paper’ while it and its proposals are in the evaluation phase, which runs until June.
At the presentation of the ‘White Paper’ in February, Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, spoke of the future introduction of legislation on digital networks (‘Digital Network Act’), similar to the legislation on digital markets and services (see EUROPE 13355/8). (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)