# CE2004084EN.01007101.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/71 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/71

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(2004/C 84 E/0076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3599/03

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject:   Payable Internet services

Subject:

One of the main Italian providers has made its Internet and e-mail services subject to payment since 11 November this year. From now on all those who want to continue using its services will have to pay an annual fee of around EUR 30.

This is a worrying sign of the direction in which Internet providers are moving. There is a tendency towards privatising the Net, which runs counter to the programme announced by the European Council in Lisbon. Furthermore, users only knew about the introduction of the new system when they were denied access to their own data and were asked to pay for the service, without a clear warning from the provider.

| 1. | What steps will the Commission take to ensure free access to the Internet for European citizens? |
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1.

What steps will the Commission take to ensure free access to the Internet for European citizens?

| 2. | Does the Commission not consider that the behaviour of the Italian service provider referred to above is a blatant abuse and detrimental to the people who trusted it to handle their private correspondence? |
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2.

Does the Commission not consider that the behaviour of the Italian service provider referred to above is a blatant abuse and detrimental to the people who trusted it to handle their private correspondence?

| 3. | Does the Commission not consider that this action is contrary to the proposals announced by the European Council in Lisbon regarding the creation of a knowledge-based society? |
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3.

Does the Commission not consider that this action is contrary to the proposals announced by the European Council in Lisbon regarding the creation of a knowledge-based society?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

(21 January 2004)

| 1. | The Commission believes that efficient and unencumbered access to new electronic communication services, including Internet services, can best be achieved in the first instance by there being an open and competitive market for such services. This is part of the basic motivation behind the common regulatory framework for electronic communications and services adopted last year and now being implemented within the Member States. |
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1.

The Commission believes that efficient and unencumbered access to new electronic communication services, including Internet services, can best be achieved in the first instance by there being an open and competitive market for such services. This is part of the basic motivation behind the common regulatory framework for electronic communications and services adopted last year and now being implemented within the Member States.

| 2. | Much of the Internet, and indeed its content and services, are the result of private investment. It is not unreasonable to expect that private companies will aim to make a return on that investment, as they would with any other investment. The Internet has permitted a range of commercial and non-commercial models to co-exist. Some of the models involve direct payment by consumers and some others are financed by advertising. It is not unusual for service providers to change their terms and conditions, and this can include charging for a particular service. If however this were done in an abusive way, for example without adequate warning, then the matter could be taken up with the local consumer protection authorities, for example. |
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2.

Much of the Internet, and indeed its content and services, are the result of private investment. It is not unreasonable to expect that private companies will aim to make a return on that investment, as they would with any other investment. The Internet has permitted a range of commercial and non-commercial models to co-exist. Some of the models involve direct payment by consumers and some others are financed by advertising. It is not unusual for service providers to change their terms and conditions, and this can include charging for a particular service. If however this were done in an abusive way, for example without adequate warning, then the matter could be taken up with the local consumer protection authorities, for example.

| 3. | The Commission in its contribution to the Lisbon European Council noted that the high cost of Internet access was an important factor. The expectation was though that increased competition would reduce these costs. While there was the aim that the Internet be accessible by all this was not meant that all access should be without any payment. |
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3.

The Commission in its contribution to the Lisbon European Council noted that the high cost of Internet access was an important factor. The expectation was though that increased competition would reduce these costs. While there was the aim that the Internet be accessible by all this was not meant that all access should be without any payment.

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