[P2P-F] Fwd: [fcf_discussion] Net Neutrality's Fate in Europe in the Hands of a Few MEPs?

Thu Dec 19 05:50:14 CET 2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Subject: [fcf_discussion] Net Neutrality's Fate in Europe in the Hands of a
Few MEPs?
To: fcforum_discussion at list.fcforum.net

Themes: NET NEUTRALITY, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, NEELIE KROES, PILAR DEL
CASTILLO VERA, CATHERINE TRAUTMANN, MARIETJE SCHAAKE

La Quadrature du Net – For immediate release

Permanent link:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutralitys-fate-in-europe-in-the-hands-of-a-few-meps

Net Neutrality's Fate in Europe in the Hands of a Few MEPs?

*** Paris, 16 December 2013 — A few days before the deadline for Members of
the European Parliament to table amendments on the anti-Net neutrality
Kroes' proposal [1], within the ITRE committee, La Quadrature du Net sent
them out its own proposal of amendments [2]. From now and until December
17th, citizens must contact [3] their representatives and urge them to
alter Neelie Kroes' proposal and ensure that European citizens can
definitely benefit from a genuine and unconditional Net neutrality. ***

Last Monday, Pilar del Castillo Vera (EPP - Spain), rapporteur for the
proposal of the Commission on the European Single Market for electronic
communications, introduced her draft report [4] before the members of the
“Industry” (ITRE) committee. Until December 17th, Members of the European
Parliament will be in capacity to table amendments and could concretely
defend the freedoms of the European citizens and protect their electronic
communications. Supposed to give the main orientations on the issue, the
draft of the rapporteur will be ostensibly the basis for discussions within
the ITRE committee and, consequently, within the whole EU Parliament, once
the report will be voted in plenary sitting.

Since del Castillo's report proposes the very same heavily criticized [5]
anti-Net neutrality provisions contained in Neelie Kroes' proposal, the
contribution of every single Member of the European Parliament by the
end-date of December 17th, is increasingly necessary and strongly
recommended. By now, the future of Net Neutrality in the European Union
largely depends on the vote of the ITRE committee and the amendments its
members will adopt next year, on February 27th: good amendments [6] can
lead to an EU-wide meaningful protection of Net neutrality. On the
contrary, adopting industry-oriented amendments, will basically destroy
this essential principle and deeply undermine altogether freedom of
communication on the Internet, privacy, but also competition and innovation
in digital economy.

Some MEPs appear to have heard the numerous criticisms expressed against
Kroes' loopholes, as Catherine Trautmann (S&D - France) or Marietje Schaake
(ALDE - Netherlands). Since they publicly announced [7] their opposition to
Kroes' proposal, they have the ethical obligation to prevent the adoption
of its most dangerous provisions.

Until December 17th, citizens must act and urge their MEPs to table
positive amendments, and to not just follow the insufficient suggestions
made by the rapporteur. In particular, they must better specify the nature
and the characteristics of specialised services and provide enforcement
mechanisms so as to achieve a meaningful protection of Net neutrality, as
suggested by La Quadrature du Net's proposal of amendments.

“Neelie Kroes and Del Castillo Vera's current proposals could jeopardize
for decades the essential principle of Net neutrality. But if we can
convince MEPs to table and adopt positive amendments fixing the main
loopholes of the draft regulation, this could lead to a substantial
progress of our freedom online as well as innovation in digital economy
environment. For all those reasons, citizens must act now and urge MEPs to
ensure a real and unconditional Net neutrality!” concluded Miriam Artino,
in charge of legal and political analysis for La Quadrature du Net.

* References *

1. https://www.laquadrature.net/files/Proposal-Kroes-201309_EN.pdf

2.
https://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/LQDN_proposal_for_amendements_on_Single_Market_Regulation

3. https://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/How_to_contact_a_MEP_ITRE

4.
https://laquadrature.net/files/Net%20Neutrality%20-%20Draft%20Report%20ITRE%20-%20%20Del%20Castillo%20Vera.pdf

5. As an example, the European Data Protection Supervisor stated in a press
release published on November 15th that the Neelie Kroes' proposal devoids
“of substance" the Net neutrality principle "because of the almost
unlimited right of providers to manage Internet traffic”. Citizen
organisations also widely criticized the proposal.

6. Protecting the electronic communication of the European citizens means
to guarantee a very solid Net neutrality principle. To that purpose it is
highly necessary to clearly define what is a specialised services; provide
enforcement mechanisms and strictly frame what is a reasonable traffic
management practices.

7. At the annual conference of the European Competitive Telecommunication
Association, which took place in Brussels on December 3rd, Catherine
Trautmann said she wants to improve the definition of specialised services
and obligate the Internet access providers to develop their activities
within their networks. Marietje Schaake also strongly criticized Kroes'
proposal.
Sources:
https://www.laquadrature.net/fr/contexte-le-debat-sur-la-neutralite-du-net-se-leve-au-parlement-europeen[fr]
-
http://www.vieuws.eu/ict/net-neutrality-european-commission-proposal-may-stifle-innovation-argues-marietje-schaake-mep/

** About La Quadrature du Net **

La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that defends the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international
NGOs including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society
Institute and Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-la-quadrature-du-net

** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room

-- 
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