On 1 July, the College of Commissioners met with the Slovak government in Bratislava to launch the country’s first-ever Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Despite unprecedented challenges and growing uncertainty, the Slovak Presidency is putting forward a positive agenda in which strengthening the Digital Single Market will be a high priority.
The GSMA welcomed Slovakia’s ambitious work programme and its goal of removing regulatory barriers to innovation, while creating the right regulatory environment. The Presidency will lead negotiations on key Digital Single Market proposals including copyright, spectrum allocation, the telecoms framework review and data flows.
As part of the agenda of the ministers for telecommunication, the Presidency plans to build on the work of the Netherlands Presidency and progress an agreement with the European Parliament on the harmonisation of the 700 MHz frequency band to support high-speed mobile internet services. As the timely and coordinated release of the 700MHz band is critical for the development of mobile communications in Europe, the GSMA has stressed the importance of maintaining 2020 as a final deadline for the shift to mobile for the 700MHz band.
The Slovak Presidency will also schedule a debate on the main policy issues related to the revision of the regulatory framework for electronic communications at the December meeting of the Telecommunications Council. The GSMA urges policymakers to review existing market structures and establish a forward-looking and holistic regulatory framework that further strengthens Europe as a preferred location for investment and innovation, while ensuring European citizens benefit from consistent protection across similar services.
This big task will need to be undertaken through dialogue between policy makers, industry and stakeholders. Open to collaboration, the GSMA looks forward to supporting the Presidency in progressing EU telecoms policy during the second half of 2016.