Telecoms Council

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Excerpts

Wednesday 1st December 2010 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

I am pleased to confirm the agenda items for which BIS has responsibility at the forthcoming Telecommunications Council in Brussels on 3 December 2010. I intend to represent the UK at this Council.

There are four substantive agenda items:

1. Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the first Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP): A Progress Report and Exchange of Views.

This item is an exchange of views on the presidency report and questions for the discussion in relation to the Commission’s proposed RSPP (EM 13872/10). This is a proposal for draft legislation which codifies policy and legislative actions necessary for the efficient management of spectrum in the EU up to 2015.

The RSPP is seen by the Commission as a necessary key contributor towards broadband targets, especially for those geographically rural and remote areas that would rely on wireless technology to receive broadband services. This view is generally shared by the Council and the European Parliament. It follows on from the agreements reached on spectrum during the communications framework review.

Progress had been made in debating the draft legislation in the Council but the European Parliament is yet to start deliberations.

The questions tabled for discussion range from how spectrum management contributes to economic growth through issues related to a proposed inventory of spectrum in the EU to the deadlines related to the release of certain spectrum.

As efficient spectrum management is a key component of the Coalition’s broadband strategy, the main points of my intervention, taking into account the questions posed, will be:

to broadly welcome the proposals from the Commission which we do indeed think are important in terms of economic growth within the EU and for the development of mobile broadband services;

to welcome the breadth of the proposal but to caution any legislation mandating the use of spectrum for particular social or community purposes;

to welcome the approach by Commission of ensuring that spectrum for mobile broadband is made available as early as possible but caution on the imposition of rigid timelines that may not be realistic or match national circumstances; and

to wish the Hungarian presidency well in their deliberations on this important dossier with a hope that we might see an agreement before the summer of next year.

2. Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 460/2004 establishing the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) as regards its duration—A Progress Report

Proposal for a Regulation concerning the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA)—A Progress Report

These two items are progress reports from the Commission on the current status of the above two recently issued documents. (EM 14322/10)

The first progress report covers the proposal to amend the existing regulation, which established ENISA, in order to extend its duration for 18 months. (The purpose of the extension is to allow the continued operation of ENISA under its current remit whilst the new regulation is negotiated).

The second progress report covers the new regulation that renews and updates the mandate of ENISA.

As these items are progress reports and it is anticipated that no debate will take place, I am not planning an active intervention. However, should there be a debate; my intervention will reaffirm Her Majesty’s Government’s (HMG) current policies that are detailed in the relevant EM noted above.

3. Cross-fertilisation between the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives “A Digital Agenda for Europe” and “Innovation Union”—Adoption of Council Conclusions

This item covers the adoption of the above Council conclusions. These conclusions are member states’ views on the synergies between two of the EU Commission flagship agendas, namely the Innovation Union (EM14035/10) and the European Digital Agenda (EM 9981/10).

Thus, the conclusions contain elements of both flagship agendas, including stressing the need for accelerating the roll out of high-speed broadband which will help drive innovation, as well as recognising the importance of increasing EU spend on ICT research and development.

In the main, HMG welcomes these conclusions, and I intend to make the following comments:

welcome the adoption of these conclusions and pleased to see joined up thinking in linking together these two critical flagship agendas;

pleased to see that these conclusions recognise the importance of digital technologies as one of the key economic drivers for Europe’s future prosperity;

welcome the emphasis on the re-use of public sector data as a potential driver of private-sector led innovation; and

welcome the “active and healthy ageing” EIP pilot that will be jointly developed by DG-INFSO and DG-SANCO (the latter being the part of the Commission that deals with health issues).

4. European Broadband: investing in digitally driven growth—Adoption of Council conclusions

The last substantive item on the agenda is the adoption of the Council conclusions that specifically cover the European broadband strategy (EM 13874/10). This strategy is another component of the Commission’s “Broadband Package”.

The importance of broadband roll-out is noted under item 1 above and I plan to make the following interventions during the planned discussion on these conclusions:

HMG welcomes the adoption of these conclusions and hope that they will be taken note of by member states and the Commission to aid them in the rollout of super-fast broadband;

The UK recognises the value of these conclusions and will shortly publish a UK-wide broadband strategy, detailing HMG’s plan to ensure every UK citizen is able to access broadband; and

The EU broadband objectives are challenging, but by working together, and alongside the private sector, we can achieve them.

I will inform the House of the outcome of the discussion on this, and the preceding item in my post-Council statement.

This concludes the formal substantive business items for Council. However, there are three items that are covered by “Any Other Business”.

They are:

A. A report on the state of development of roaming services within the European Union—Presentation by the Commission.

This item will be coupled with a discussion over lunch preceding the Council. These items will be centred around the Commission’s recent Interim Report on the State of the Roaming Market (EM11711/10)

During the lunch, Ministers have been asked to consider and discuss three questions. In summary they cover issues relating to stimulating competition, the impact of technological change and the introduction of a price cap on the retail price of data while roaming.

During my lunch time discussion and any debate following the presentation from the Commission, I intend to make the following points:

we look forward to proposals from the Commission on how they intend to deal with the roaming issue when the current regulation expires in June 2012;

we fully support the call by the Commissioner for a functioning single market in mobile roaming services; especially with respect to data (which is of increasing importance for EU citizens); and

we would welcome high-level but detailed discussions between all interested parties on this issue to try—possibly using the same format as the recent meeting on net neutrality—and find a way forward that benefits consumers but also does not undermine competition, investment or innovation in the mobile sector.

B. Internet Governance Forum (IGF)—Briefing by the Commission and the Presidency.

I do not plan an intervention on this item but if the opportunity arises, I will reaffirm HMG’s policy lines that:

supports the multi-stakeholder approach on internet governance;

welcomes the agreements reached at the recent ITU plenipotentiary; and

anticipates a positive outcome to a vote in the UN General Assembly later in December to extend the mandate of the IGF for another five years.

C. The next presidency’ programme and events—Briefing by the Hungarian delegation

This item is a presentation from the Hungarian delegation on their plans once they assume the presidency of the EU (1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011).

I do not plan an intervention for this item but you may wish to note that my officials are in the final stages of planning a bilateral meeting with Hungarian officials so that we are able to capitalise upon any opportunities that may be presented by Hungary assuming the presidency.