Alarms sound over changes to EU roaming, net neutrality and privacy rules

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The European Parliament’s liberal-centrist bloc has warned over changes being made by European Union countries to incoming telecommunications legislation, saying they will severely weaken efforts to introduce unified network neutrality rules and eliminate mobile roaming surcharges for people moving between member states. The Council of the European Union, which represents member states, is expected to present its position on March 4 regarding the Telecoms Single Market proposal -- this follows the European Commission’s original proposal and changes made by the Parliament, and will trigger negotiations over the final text.

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group said that the Council’s position is so watered down that it would undermine campaign pledges made by Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and the Parliament that came in 2014. Meanwhile, digital rights groups have released leaked documents relating to the Council’s under-development position on a separate legislative package, the new General Data Protection Regulation. The version that left Parliament would introduce very tough new rules for companies and governments handling EU citizens’ personal data, but it appears member states have been agitating for these rules to be weakened.


Alarms sound over changes to EU roaming, net neutrality and privacy rules