New EC Wins Approval Despite Some Strong Parliamentary Opposition
The European Parliament Wednesday approved the new European Commission, prompting hope and optimism from telecom, tech, consumer and civil society groups. The 423-209 vote followed an intense debate that highlighted a major rift between the three main political parties and others, such as the Eurosceptics and Greens. Parliament members (MEPs) split over several candidates and issues, but EC President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker's choices of former Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip for digital single market vice president and current Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger as digital economy and society commissioner sailed through without comment. The strong opposition by some political groups showed that MEPs "are taking the prime opportunity at the outset to make sure the Commission knows it has a handbrake," emailed a European Consumers' Organisation spokesman. The new panel must now be formally appointed by the Council of Ministers, and will begin work Nov. 1, Parliament said.
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The new EC is "not just an anonymous bunch of technocrats" but will be "very political in nature," Juncker said before the debate. Four of the commissioners are former prime ministers, and 19 are former government ministers, he said. The former heads of state will coordinate complex issues such as the digital single market, Juncker said. Ansip's job will be to coordinate the completion of the digital single market; Oettinger will work with Ansip on such issues as harmonizing spectrum and supporting the rollout of a digital network structure, Juncker said when he announced his candidates in September (see 1409110024). Another key player in the digital arena will be new Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who will work on Europe's jobs and growth areas and on antitrust enforcement.
Concerns from lawmakers who opposed the new slate included that it's just more of the same old thing, with the focus on austerity rather than on the needs and rights of European citizens, and that Juncker is pushing for federalism and centralization of powers. "Nothing will change, there will be no reform," said Jan Zahradil, of the European Conservatives and Reformists and Czech Republic.
"Regardless of the candidates selected, significant opposition could be expected, if nothing else as a sign of newfound post-Lisbon parliamentary strength," the BEUC spokesman told us, referring to the recent incarnation of the EU Treaty. That might translate to better representation of the average European and "help reconfigure the EU's legislative patterns to take greater account of consumers" than the outgoing EC did, he said. The "experienced duo" of Ansip and Oettinger has the "historic opportunity" to ensure that Europe embraces the Internet as a tool for modernizing its industrial, social and democratic fabric, said Computer and Communications Industry Association Vice President-Europe James Waterworth. The biggest challenge will be "address[ing] legitimate consumer concerns" while enabling Europe to become a global digital leader, he added.
European Digital Rights is "very encouraged by the energy that is being shown by the new Commissioners," emailed Executive Director Joe McNamee. Under the last two commissions, there has been "minimal progress on copyright reform, incoherence on net neutrality, dishonesty on trade deal and abdication of responsibility with regard to the privatisation of law enforcement online," he said.
DigitalEurope, which represents the high-tech sector, cheered the approval of the new team. Juncker's "emphasis on the creation of a digitally powered single market is fully in line with our vision for the EU," said Director General John Higgins. The European Competitive Telecommunications Association said the current pro-competitive framework has been successful overall, but the transition to next-generation networks could enable dominant players to rebuild monopolies. Competitive telcos need policies that enable investments by all players, not just the big companies, said ECTA Chairman Tom Ruhan. The new EC "has the unique opportunity to unlock a new wave of investment" in the digital markets, said European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association Chairman Luigi Gambardella. The new EC structure, with Ansip and Oettinger, "adds relevance" to the digital issues and could help Europe regain leadership in the tech sector, he added. ISPs are "confident" the EC will "set the right crucial course" toward a well-balanced framework for a competitive Internet industry, said European Internet Services Providers Association President Oliver Sueme.