The EU Parliament just started discussing a resolution and oral question to the Commission on Net Neutrality. Make your voice heard to ensure that your EU representatives make a strong commitment for a free and open Internet against pressure from the telecoms industry.



Network Neutrality —understood as the principle of non-discrimination between online communications— is the foundation for the democratic and socio-economic benefits of the Internet. However, Net Neutrality is under the threat of dominant telecom operators who want to develop new business models based on the control of their users’ communications.

Although some national lawmakers are keen on addressing the issue, the EU Commission is in a position of complete denial. In fact, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes seems ready to let telecom operators discriminate Internet traffic, officially sticking to a wait-and-see approach as evidenced by her extremely disappointing report on the matter.

The EU must act now before telcos kill the Internet as we know it. It is of the utmost importance that the Members of the EU Parliament —the EU’s only democratic institution— make their voice heard in this crucial debate. They must commit to the adoption of an EU-wide Net Neutrality law that will ensure the Internet remains open to all. So far, the draft resolution and oral question discussed last week by the EU Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) are weak, and play into the hands of telecom operators, who are lobbying hard to make it worse. Every EU citizen can help counter their noxious influence.

Write to your MEPs! Get in touch with the European Members of Parliament by phone or e-mail to urge them to take resolute action Acknowledge the looming threats on Net neutrality in Europe and their risk for innovation, competition and freedoms online;

Recognize the inadequacy of the provisions of the 2009 Telecoms Package to protect Net neutrality. Neither Minimal Quality of Service nor Transparency are sufficient tools to address this pressing issue.

Call on the Commission and Council to support the adoption of EU-wide legislation on Net neutrality which would ban discriminatory traffic management practices and create sanctions against violations of this principle. in favour of a free and open Internet.

Below is our letter sent to the committee on September 7th.