Subject files - European single market for electronic communications and to achieve a connected continent - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

IMCO was associated committee on this file, with exclusive competence for all matters related to consumer protection and shared competence for a number of other provisions (such as roaming, open internet access). In January 2014, IMCO adopted its draft opinion, which diverted significantly from the Commission's original proposal to fully harmonise consumer rights provisions through the regulation and instead proposes to introduce valuable new consumer protection provisions through amending the Universal Services and Users' Rights Directive.

 

IMCO foresees stronger contractual information obligations, including information on unlocking terminal equipment upon contract termination,(e.g. mobile phones) and  more comprehensive, contractually binding information on speed for internet access services. It also clarifies that the switching and contract termination provisions will apply to all elements of a bundle containing electronic communication services (i.e. including access to internet TV services, previously not covered). The Parliament also foresees new provisions on consumption control to avoid 'bill shock'.  It also strengthens the provisions on the 112 emergency number, including the need to ensure more accurate and precise caller location information. The opinion sent a decisive signal to the Commission on the need to address the question of setting up a "reverse 112 communication system". In addition, the opinion contained substantial amendments on the interplay between securing open internet access services and providing specialised services, suggesting revised definitions of relevant terms and fine-tuning the freedoms granted through the regulation.

 

The lead committee, ITRE, took over all consumer protection provisions from the IMCO opinion into its report, adopted in March 2014. On the basis of the report, the European Parliament voted on its first reading of the draft legislation in April 2014, in order to consolidate the work done so far and to hand it over to the next Parliament, thereby ensuring that the newly elected MEPs can build on the work done during the current term.

 

IMCO Rapporteur: Malcolm Harbour (ECR)

 

The shadow rapporteurs are: Regina Bastos (EPP), Bernadette Vergnaud (S&D), Jürgen Creutzmann (ALDE) and Christian Engström (Greens).