Memo: EU Data Protection Reform: Major Telecoms Operators Support Push for Level-Playing Field

On 11 February 2013, Vice-President Viviane Reding met Luigi Gambardella, chairman of ETNO (the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association), who represents the leading telecommunications network operators in Europe to discuss the EU Data Protection rules proposed by the European Commission in January 2012.

Vice-President Reding and ETNO jointly called on the European Parliament and Council to ensure that provisions that facilitate a level playing field between all actors of the ICT industry remained a key building block of the EU Data Protection Regulation, in order to guarantee fair competition between EU companies and those based outside of the Union but which operate on Europe's single market. This will guarantee consistent and robust data protection for all consumers.

Data Protection is a fundamental right enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. EU citizens’ personal data must be granted the same level of protection, regardless of the geographical location or the economic sector of the service provider.