MEPs to vote on European telecoms reform

MEPs are likely to throw out proposals for a Europe-wide telecoms regulator

MEPs will vote on new European telecoms reforms next week, and are likely to throw out proposals for a Europe-wide telecoms regulator.

However, plans to force ISPs to reveal details of confidential data breaches to their customers could be given the go-ahead.

One of the major changes to the EU's regulatory framework for electronic communications was a proposal from Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, for the establishment of a new European Telecommunications Market Authority.

The new body would oversee national telecoms regulators, including Ofcom in the UK, and ensure that new legislation enacted by the European Parliament is introduced across member states.

However, UK West Midlands MEP Malcolm Harbour, one of four rapporteurs tasked with ushering in the new telecoms legislation, said: "We did not like the centralised authority chosen by the EU parliament.

"We have proposed a body with more input from countries' own National Regulatory Authorities so that all the regulators can work together with their peers to resolve issues.

"That is a more logical solution. Viviane Reding was not that keen [on our ideas], but has agreed to work with us."

Another major amendment to be voted on next week will be an e-privacy proposal to make carriers and ISPs inform users about breaches of confidential data.

Harbour said that there would be "a provision for National Regulatory Authorities to produce an annual report detailing all data breaches and what has been done about them".

The second reading of the EU regulatory reforms is scheduled for April 2009.