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PROGRESS TOWARDS A EUROPEAN DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET IN 2014
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traffic management, pluralism and diversity of
information, privacy, transparency and account-
ability.
Consumer protection
In respect to consumer protection, the Regulation
approved by the Commission establishes the ob-
ligation on operators to supply information
about the quality of service and to enhance
transparency. Among the information that op-
erators have to publish are real upload and
download speeds, including peak times, the
techniques used in the event of network con-
gestion or any other traffic management tech-
nique, and the right of users to access inde-
pendent evaluation tools that enable them to
compare access performance.
Finally, the regulation also proposes meas-
ures to facilitate switching between providers,
including: a prohibition on the payment of pen-
alty clauses in the event of portability, with any
charges being based on costs, switchover to
take no more than one day, and any outstand-
ing credit on pre-payment tariffs to be returned
following cancellation of the contract.
Other measures
eSignature
This year a new Regulation
8
related to electron-
ic identification in the European Union was ap-
proved, replacing directive 1999/93/EC. The
8
Regulation EU No. 910/2014 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identifi-
cation and trust services for electronic transactions in the
internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC.
European Commission had already highlighted
the fact that the increase in cybercrime consti-
tuted a major obstacle to the adoption of online
services by citizens, and was therefore a major
obstacle to the development of a virtuous cycle
of internet use, and that this made it necessary
to take measures to improve security in the pro-
vision of these services.
In addition, the lack of harmonization in
electronic authentication and identification
methods throughout the European Union has
meant that, in the majority of cases, citizens of
one Member State cannot use these electronic
identification methods to identify themselves in
another Member State, thus preventing them
from enjoying the full the benefits that derive
from a single market. In practice, this lack of
harmonization obstructs cross-border opera-
tions and creates unnecessary obstacles for citi-
zens and businesses.
Because of the fragmentation of regulation in
different states, the Regulation proposes “ensur-
ing the proper functioning of the internal market
while aiming at an adequate level of security of
electronic identification means and trust services”.
The Regulation thus establishes the rules,
procedures and conditions under which Member
States should accept the electronic identifica-
tion methods of other Member States. It also
establishes rules for trust services, with special
attention to electronic transactions. Finally, it
establishes a legal framework for electronic sig-
natures and certificates and other types of au-
thentication service.
E-billing
E-billing suffered from the same problems as
electronic signatures throughout the European
Union. Despite campaigns by public institutions
to raise awareness of its benefits, its use has