25 Amendments of Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN related to 2011/0299(COD)
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions -European Broadband: investing in digitally driven growth concludes that the critical role of the internet means that the benefits for society as a whole appear to be much greater than the private incentives to invest in faster networks. PTherefore, public support for this area is therefore necessary, buis necessary, targeting areas where there is a lack of commercial initiatives to satisfy current or anticipated demand. Any public support should not unduly distort competition, nor strengthen the dominant position of some market players, nor dis- incentivise private investment.
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8 a) The financial resources available at Union level are scarce; the Connecting Europe Facility should focus on projects of common interest that provide highest EU-added value. In the telecom sector, financial aid should primarily be targeted at projects that will generate demand for broadband, including the building of a European digital service infrastructure, which should in turn stimulate investments in broadband network deployment.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Within the framework of a system of open and competitive markets, the Union's intervention is necessary where existing and anticipated market failures need to be overcome. By providing financial support and additional financing leverage to infrastructure projects the Union can contribute to the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the area of telecommunications, thus generating higher benefits in terms of market impact, administrative efficiency and resource utilisation.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Substantial economic and social benefits, which cannot be captured nor monetised by investors, are associated with higher broadband speeds. Fast and ultra- fast broadband is the key enabling infrastructure for the development and deployment of digital services, which rely on the availability, speed, reliability and resilience of the physical networks. The deployment and take-up of faster networks opens the way for innovative services exploiting higher speeds. Action at Union level is necessary to maximiseshould aim at maximization of the synergies and interactions between those two components of digital telecommunications networks.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The development of broadband networks and digital service infrastructures will contribute to the Union's objective to reduce greenhouse gas emission by enabling energy-efficient solutions in many sectors of Europe's economy. This positive effect will be limited, but only to some extent, byoutweighs the growing energy and resource demand related mainly to the construction of broadband networks and the operation of digital service infrastructures.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Increasing and preserving access to Europe's rich and diverse cultural content and data held by public sector bodies, and opening them up for reuse in full respect of copyright and related rights, will nurture creativity and spur innovation and entrepreneurship. Unhampered access to re-usable multilingual resources will help overcome language barriers, which undermine the internal market for online services and limit access to knowledge. Improving access to electronic educational resources across Europe, while stimulating cooperation and partnership between educational institutions, students, professors would be a cost-efficient way to improve quality of education and strengthen European cohesiveness.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to take into account the developments in the areas of information and communication technologies, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending the Annex to this Regulation. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The objective of this delegation is to address new technological and market developments, emerging political priorities or opportunities for exploiting synergies between different infrastructures, including those in the fields of Transport and Energy. The scope of delegation is limited to modifying the description of projects of common interest, adding a project of common interest or removing an obsolete project of common interest according to pre-established, clear and transparent criteria, taking into account investment certainty for market actors.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) stimulate Europe-wide deployment of fast and ultra-fast broadband networks which, in turn, shall facilitate the development and deployment of trans- European digital service, respecting the principle of technological neutrality, the development and deployment of trans-European digital services which, in turn, will also create demand for Europe-wide deployment of fast and ultra-fast broadband networks.
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the deployment of ultra fast broadband networks ensuring the speedstimulating and generating the demand for broadband by promoting the interconnection and interoperability of dnata transmission of 100 Mbps and aboveional public services on-line as well as access to such networks;
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) accelerating the deployment of broadband networks to link island, landlocked and peripheral regions with the central regions of the Union ensuring in those regions that speeds of data transmission are sufficient to permit broadband connectivity of 30 Mbps and abovefast and ultrafast broadband networks and their uptake in order to meet existing and rising demand, including by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
Amendment 157 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) actions allowing to achieve synergies and interoperability between different projects of common interest in the field of Telecommunications, between projects of common interest concerning different types of infrastructures, including Transport and Energy, between project of common interest in the field of Telecommunications and projects supported by the Structural and Cohesion funds, as well as relevant research infrastructures, avoiding unnecessary duplication of administrative burdens.
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – paragraph 1
The projects of common interest shall aim for the removal of bottlenecks which hinder the completion of the Single Market i.e. providing connectivity to the network and access, including across borders, to digital service infrastructures, therefore stimulating demand.
Amendment 202 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – paragraph 2
Annex 1 – paragraph 2
The deployment and enhancement of trans- European telecommunication networks (broadband networks and digital service infrastructures) shall contribute to fostering economic growth, creating jobs and achieving a vibrant digital single market. In particular, their deployment will grant faster access to the internet, bring about information technology-enabled improvements in daily life for citizens, including children and young persons, businesses, universities and governments, increase interoperability and facilitate the alignment or convergence to commonly agreed standards.
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex 1 – section 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Support actions and other technical support measures. These actions are needed to prepare or support the implementation of projects of common interest or accelerate their take-up. They may include technical and financial engineering assistance that facilitates the preparation of projects of common interest in view of obtaining financial support on the market or under the Regulation (EU) No xxxx/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Connecting Europe Facility. In the field of digital services, support actions shall also stimulate and promote the take- up of new digital service infrastructures that may become necessary or useful based on technological developments, changes in the relevant markets or emerging political priorities.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 2
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 2
Investment in broadband infrastructure has been undertaken predominantly by private investors and it is expected that this will remain the case. However, the achievement of the Digital Agenda targets will require investment in areas for which The Union financial support should target areas where commercial initiatives would othere wise not a clear business case or where a business case may need to be enhanced within the time frame of thesatisfy current or anticipated demand, in order to help achieve the Digital Agenda targets. The following types of areas can be characterized on the basis of the likely investment:
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 4
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 4
Rural and low density areas are typically served with low speed connections and in some cases even not served at all. Such areas will include remote and sparsely populated regions where investment costs are either very high or where income is low. The business case for investment is unlikely to be viable and the European targets are unlikely to be reached by 2020. Investment in these areas needs higher financial support, provided by grants, possibly from cohesion funds or rural development in combination with financial instruments. Such areas will include remote and sparsely populated regions where investment costs are either very high or where income is low. The support from the Connecting Europe Facility in these areas is likely to complement available cohesion funds or rural development and other direct public support under the Connecting Europe Facility.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 5
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 5
High density/urban areas – with the exception of some low income regions - are typically well served with medium to fast speed connections, often provided by competitive offerings of cable and telecom operators. Yet because of this relatively satisfactory situation the market incentives to invest in very high speed networks such as fibre to the home are limited. Thus financial supportthe use of financial instruments, may be also envisaged to investments in urban areas with dense populations which do not attract sufficient investment despite societal benefits it would generate, provided that it is in full compliance with Articles 101, 102 and 106 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as well as, if relevant, with the Community Guidelines for the application of state aid rules in relation to rapid deployment of broadband networks.
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 6
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 6
In less developed regions, the support to the deployment of broadband networks should be provided primarily through the instruments of Structural and Cohesion funds. Grants and / orThey should be complemented by financial instruments from the Connecting Europe Facility may complement such support where necessary to achieve the objectives of this Regulation. The achievement of synergies between the CEF actions in those regions and the support from the Structural and Cohesion Funds may be reinforced, by using an appropriate coordination mechanism.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 10 – point c a (new)
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 10 – point c a (new)
(c a) Assistance in preparation of projects of common interests in view of obtaining financing under the Regulation (EU) No xxxx/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Connecting Europe Facility or on the financial markets;
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 13 – point c
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 13 – point c
(c) Regional and local decision makers, including municipalities, who may establish concessions for broadband infrastructures. Equipment providers may be interested in such an arrangement, via the creation of a special purpose company.
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 13 – point d
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 13 – point d
(d) Partnerships between several operators active in wired and wireless markets to build new generation of infrastructures, as well as between operators and companies established in rural, island, landlocked or peripheral regions.
Amendment 262 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 14
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 14
In building the portfolio due account shall be taken of Member States' investment needs in terms of the number of households to be connected with the support ofthe anticipated demand for broadband access and benefits to the local economy facilitated through the Connecting Europe Facility.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 15
Annex 1 – section 2 – paragraph 15
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 6 a (new)
European Platform for Access to Educational Resources The objective is to exploit the benefits of ICT in the field of education through Europe-wide access to educational material. Cost-effective access to and improved quality of educational material through peer-review would strengthen European cohesiveness by enabling contacts, cooperation and debates among pupils and in the academic world. It would serve as a backbone for cooperation between educational institutions facilitating the implementation of other EU programs such as "Erasmus for All" Core service platform. The core service would be an electronic multilingual platform where educational institutions and individuals would be able to share educational material under an open license. The platform would host textbooks, articles, videos and will enable users input, cooperation and discussions. It would facilitate distance education and collaboration between educational actors, including through e-learning applications. It would also serve as a platform for searching and accessing public library resources. The platform requires the development, operation and administration of distributed computing, data storage facilities and software. Generic services (a) Content repository for educational institutions and user generated content (b) Facilities allowing interactivity, collaborative editing of texts, communication (including video- conferencing) between authenticated users (c) Interoperability of libraries' search tools.
Amendment 273 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 9 – point e a (new)
Annex 1 – section 3 – paragraph 9 – point e a (new)
(e a) Deployment of infrastructures in public transports allowing the use of secure and interoperable mobile proximity services: the deployment of infrastructures in public transports allowing the use of secure and interoperable mobile proximity services will enable citizens, businesses and organisations to access a variety of innovative services in mobility across the Union. Those infrastructures including validation systems will open up opportunities for actors in telecommunications, retail, transports and public sectors to develop pan-European services such as ticketing or payment facilitating EU citizens and businesses' mobility. They will enhance synergies between different infrastructures especially in the field of public transport and telecommunications.