Memo: European Parliament Approves EU Telecoms Reform but Adds 1 Amendment: Commission Reaction

Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner, commented on today's vote as follows: 'I welcome the European Parliament's strong endorsement of the reform of the EU telecoms rules. All three reports on the reform have been voted today by the Parliament with overwhelming majorities: 565 votes in favour of the establishment of the new European Telecoms Body BEREC, 493 votes in favour of the new Directives on e-Privacy and Universal Service and 605 votes in favour of a modern set of rules for ensuring efficient management of radio spectrum and helping to remove regulatory obstacles and inconsistencies in the single telecoms market. The Parliament also voted with 578 votes for the reform of the GSM Directive, which would allow industry savings of up to €1.6 billion.

Now the ball is in the court of the Council of Telecoms Ministers to decide whether or not to accept this package of reforms. There was one amendment voted by the Parliament today that was not included in the initial deal agreed between the three EU institutions. This amendment is an important restatement of the fundamental rights of EU citizens. For many, it is of very high symbolic and political value. I call on the Council of Ministers to assess the situation very carefully, also in the light of the importance of the telecoms reform for the sector and for the recovery of our European economy. The Telecoms Council on 12 June should be used for a political discussion on whether agreement on the package is still possible or whether the discussion will have to start again with the new European Parliament in autumn.

I will work closely with the Czech Presidency to help ensuring that an agreement on this important reform can still be found in the next weeks.'

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