Activities of Marlene MIZZI related to 2015/2147(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Towards a Digital Single Market Act (A8-0371/2015 - Kaja Kallas, Evelyne Gebhardt)
Amendments (31)
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas digital economy together with innovative services and eco- industries holds the largest growth and employment dividends for the future and therefore represents a new frontier of the single market;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas reasons for European citizens not shopping online include trust, privacy, protection and security concerns as well as choice concerns, as consumers often don't now or find it difficult to understand the different options and rights they have in the digital environment or problematic to find a solution and redress when things go wrong;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Agrees with the Commission that the governance and timely delivery of the Digital Single Market is a shared responsibility of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission; encourages the Commission to engage with societal and social stakeholders and to involve them in the decision making process to the widest extent possible;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study which explores the wider impact of digitalisation on European societies in order to establish how and to which degree the phenomena has altered life in each and every Member State and to share these findings with all EU institutions and Member States; on this basis to assess whether and to which extent further action in the respective policy fields is required;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned about the different national approaches taken to regulating the internet and the sharing economy; urges the Commission to take action to preserve the integrity of the single market and, to effectively protect consumers and workers' rights and to promote the internet as an open and global platform for communication and innovation;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Regrets that the Commission's strategy neglects the accessibility aspect; reminds the Commission that there are 80 million EU citizens with disabilities and an aging population of 190 million of 50+; calls therefore on the Commission to ensure an appropriate level of accessibility in all legislative and non- legislative proposals related to the Digital Single Market; emphasises that accessibility is best achieved and cost- effectively introduced when incorporated from the outset;
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that in most Member States public and private investment is insufficient; urges the Commission to take additional measures to improve and facilitate access to finance for SMEs, particularly in respect of key sectors, including the emerging digital sector; asks the Commission to respect the timetable for the launch of the EFSI immediately, so that it has the intended effect of stimulating the real economy and boosting recovery in the Member States; considers that these investments will serve to strengthen EU competitiveness in key growth sectors such as the Digital Single Market, services, energy and transport;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Is of the opinion that digital economy will revolutionize every sector in the European economy and will change the life of every European citizen; Stresses, therefore, that the Commission and Member States need to provide additional support to help citizens better understand how to benefit from the digital revolution by using smart technologies and services and prepare the businesses in particular SMEs for the digitalisation of traditional industries so that Europe is equipped for the tasks and demands of the future;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reiterates that e-commerce provides consumers with greater choice, especially for citizens in rural, remote and peripheral areas who may otherwise not have access to a wide choice of goods, but reminds that consumers' trust and online security are fundamental aspects to enhance consumer engagement and empowerment in the digital single market;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that a fullfurther harmonisation of the legal framework governing online sales of digital content irrespective of whether they are in a tangible or intangible format and irrespective of whether they are cross- border or domestic sales, while maintaining the coherence of online and offline rules regarding legal remedies, constitutes the most practical and proportionate approach in order to close any legal gaps and improve the conditions for the functioning of the internal market;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that a full harmonisation of the legal framework governing online sales irrespective of whether they are cross- border or domestic sales, while maintaining the coherence of online and offline rules regarding legal remedies, constitutes the most practical and proportionate approachB2C digital content purchases irrespective of whether it is embodied on tangible mediums or intangible format, in particular rules on conformity, remedies in case of lack of conformity, termination and modification of B2C digital content contracts, irrespective of whether they are cross- border or domestic sales, constitutes the most practical and proportionate approach in order to close legal gaps and to improve the conditions for the functioning of the internal market;
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Draws attention to the need to adjust intellectual property rights when online sales of B2C digital content products are being newly regulated; stresses that digital content products or services supplied to the consumer must be free of any rights of a third party;
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Is concerned that the implementation of legislation applicable to B2C online sales contracts, which would give priority to the national law of the seller's seat or residence (country of origin principle) is inconsistent with Article 6 of the Rome I Regulation;
Amendment 467 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Requests an ‘Active Consumers’ strategy to assess in particular whether consumer switching is facilitated in the online world, and whether action is needed to make consumer switching easier, in order to boost competition in online markets; points further to the need to ensure accessible e-commerce services through the whole value chain, including accessible information, accessible payment mechanisms and customer service;
Amendment 497 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recognises that stepping up of e- commerce is vital for ensuring that start- up companies, SMEs, specifically innovation-based SMEs are able to set up and develop efficient business models online;
Amendment 499 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Welcomes further the Commission's initiative to review the Regulation on Consumer Protection Cooperation;
Amendment 500 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Regrets the Communication's neglect of abusive and unfair lending practices targeting consumers via email, text messages or mobile applications while consumers are still bearing the costs of the financial market crisis, points out that due to the often very high interest rates of such credits even small amounts can quickly accumulate and lead to consumers excessive indebtedness;
Amendment 501 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Calls for the introduction of guidelines on limiting excessive aggressive advertisement of abusive lending practices and amendment of the regulations on assessments of creditworthiness of consumers; welcomes the upcoming revision of the EU Directive on Misleading and Comparative Advertisement;
Amendment 502 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Calls on the Commission to come forward with the proposal for a European Accessibility Act, which it has been preparing for several years and which would improve accessibility of goods and services in the single market, including the digital single market;
Amendment 511 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that accessible, affordable, efficient and high-quality delivery services are an essential prerequisite for thriving cross-border e-commerce; supports the proposed measures to improve price transparency, interoperability and, delivery times and information schemes on liabilities in case of loss or damage as well as the regulatory oversight that should target both the smooth functioning of cross-border parcel delivery markets and compliance with relevant social and labour rights, allowing enough flexibility for the delivery market to evolve and adapt to technological innovations but calls upon the Commission to and Member States to refrain from further deregulating the parcel delivery and postal services sector in a way which could lead to unreliability and precarious working conditions;
Amendment 588 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Supports the Commission's plan to address geo-blocking in an effective manner by supplementing the existing e- commerce framework; considers it vital to focus on technological measures and technical practices resulting in unjustified limitations on access to information society services provided across border, on the conclusion of cross-border contracts to buy goods and services, but also on adjacent activities, such as payment and delivery;
Amendment 618 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Further points out the importance of the ongoing competition sector inquiry into the e-commerce sector in order to investigate, inter alia, whether geo-blocking restrictions, such as discrimination on the basis of IP address, postal address or country of issue of credit card as compared, infringe the rules of EU competition law; stresses the importance of increasing consumer and business confidence by introducing changes to the Block Exemption Regulation, most importantly Article 4a and Article 4b, in order to limit undesirable re-routing and territorial restrictions;
Amendment 677 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Highlights that in order to reap the full benefits offered by ICT and to keep up with other international markets, roll- out of high-speed fixed and wireless broadband networks, especially in rural and remote areas, should remain a key priority for Member States, creating a vital social and economic driver in areas which would otherwise face substantial and at times detrimental isolation due to a number of factors with poor provision of physical as well as digital infrastructure playing a key role;
Amendment 690 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Highlights in this context the need for the Commission to closely cooperate with the Member States, in order to establish performance indicators and guidelines pertaining the quality of the 112 service, paying particular attention to the need for interoperability between emergency services, for multilingualism and for timely and qualitative interventions by emergency services; emphasises that in this context the importance of accessibility to 112 services for all citizens and underlines the necessity of 112 access per SMS or comparable means for people with special needs; further calls on the Commission to promote knowledge of the EU-wide, universal and multilingual 112 system;
Amendment 691 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that a full revision of the Universal Services Directive is needed to enhance consumer rights in the digital world and to protect consumers from discriminatory behaviour and unfair service blocking;
Amendment 692 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls on the Commission to strengthen and enhance Digital Single Market end-user rights (consumer rights) in the upcoming revision of the Universal Services Directive, so that consumers' rights are addressed coherently in the context of the comprehensive review process of the electronic communications regulatory framework;
Amendment 792 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the implementing measures of the Connected Continent Package deliver the end of roaming charges for all European consumers by June 2017; Or.
Amendment 868 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Appreciates the Commission’s initiative to analyse the role of platforms in the Digital Economy as part of the up- coming Internal Market Sstrategy and urges the Commission to also focus on identifying possible gaps in terms of consumer protection;
Amendment 928 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers, in order to ensure trust in digital services, that increased resources from the public and private sector are required to strengthen the security of IT systems and online networks and the encryption of communication, to improve cyber-attack prevention and to increase knowledge of basic security processes among users of digital services; believes in this regard that particular efforts should be put in place in order to ensure full security for consumers in the use of electronic means of payment, through the achievement of a fully integrated and user-friendly EU market for payment services;
Amendment 967 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Welcomes the recent ECJ ruling on the EU-US data sharing agreement reaffirming the importance of data protection as a fundamental right in the EU; urges the Commission and Member States to respect the ECJ ruling and to immediately take steps to address the legal uncertainties and implement appropriate safeguards for citizens and business in order avoid fragmentation in the digital single market;
Amendment 970 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Is of the opinion that personal data of citizens is not a commodity but a fundamental right and that the Commission and Member States need to guarantee that citizens' personal data is protected, especially when it is transferred to third countries;