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Commissioner-designate Neelie Kroes grilled by MEPs: “We can do better”



During a three-hour long hearing on Thursday, the designated Commissioner for the digital agenda, Neelie Kroes, had to answer critical questions from the Members of the European Parliament. Though still holding the position of competition Commissioner, the Dutch Liberal Democrat is not totally new to her new portfolio as she has been serving as Minister for Telecommunications and had been responsible for the privatisation of the Dutch Post and Telecom sector.



In her response to the MEPs’ questions, Kroes underlined the importance to stimulate competition through encouraging market entry, to encourage the development of Next Generation Access and to promote high-speed next generation broadband through a State aid framework.



According to the Commissioner designate, the following issues should be key priorities for Europe’s digital agenda: building a widespread high-speed network (with access to basic broadband for all citizens until 2013 and an upgrade to NGN); improving the online single market with secure technologies and open and neutral networks; ensuring the participation of all citizens in the information society and develop more and better support for ICT research and innovation, it being essential for the low-carbon economy. In this respect, a special attention should be paid to the innovative potential of SMEs.



In her written answer, Kroes committed to propose concrete policy initiatives for a finalised Digital Agenda by summer 2010 like the awaited recommendation on regulated access to NGA, a public consultation on the issue of universal service obligations and an interim report on net neutrality.



Asked about her views on net neutrality during the hearing, the Commissioner designate underlined that we would have to be vigilant and that the protection of fundamental rights is important. Kroes’ definition of net neutrality is that providers should not be allowed to limit user’s access to content for commercial reasons (with an exception being security issues). Net neutrality is supposed to strengthen competition, transparency and an open and neutral net.



Moreover, Kroes agreed with the MEPs on the necessity to bridge the digital divide. In general, Europe would have to advance on some concrete areas like high-speed broadband and better wireless applications to boost the economy and to create jobs.



The Commissioner designate’s performance during the hearing was rather convincing; Kroes seems to have both the background knowledge and the necessary commitment for the portfolio. However, considering her experience as competition Commissioner, it remains to be seen if she will manage to strike the balance between the competitiveness of the market and the necessary regulation.







For more information about the hearings of the designated Commissioners, you can consult the homepage of the European Parliament:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings//default.htm?timeline=3&language=EN