[cooperation-wg] Debriefing of meeting with Members of the European Parliament on 11/11/13

Yesterday, on the 11th of November we went to the European Parliament to
discuss the proposed Single Market Regulation (COM(2013) 627 final ) and
meet with 2 Members of the European Parliament, namely:


   - Pilar Del Castillo and  http://www.pilardelcastillo.es
   - Marietje Schaake http://www.marietjeschaake.eu


Present from our side:

·  Wouter van Hulten, wouter at vanhulten.com

·  Alain Van Gaever, co-chair-elect RIPE Cooperation WG, avangaev at gmail.com

·  Bastiaan Goslings, bastiaan.goslings at ams-ix.net

·  Gordon Lennox gordon.lennox.13 at gmail.com

·  Joy Marino, chair Milan Internet Exchange j.marino at mix-it.net

·  Nina Bargisen, nihb at netflix.com

·  Innocenzo Gemma,  inno at innogenna.it (observer)


On the agenda: the following items related to the Single Market Regulation
were discussed


   - Assured Service Quality (ASQ) – proposal
   - Net Neutrality
   - Depeering practices
   - Engagement with the community of IP experts

 (Link to the draft Regulation:
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/regulation-european-parliament-and-council-laying-down-measures-concerning-european-single
)
Most relevant Articles: Art.19, Art.23, Art.24


Short debriefing of the meeting:

   1. ASQ: we expressed our concerns that the introduction of the Assured
   Service Quality is a “solution in search of a problem”. That it is not
   needed. And that this ASQ-proposal would be harmful to the evolution and
   innovative power of the Internet. MEP Del Castillo informed us that the
   ASQ-related articles would be removed in the draft she would send for
   translation next Thursday.
   2. Net Neutrality: we expressed our concerns that given the importance
   of this topic it should not be rushed through.  While a consensus could
   not be achieved (given the difficulty of the topic and the short time frame
   available this is hardly surprising) MEP Del Castillo seemed to suggest
   that she would strengthen the “non discriminatory “ principle in the
   Regulations.
   3. De-peering: The importance of peering and the European model of IXPs
   was highlighted.  Concerns were expressed regarding the situation in
   Italy where Telecom Italia is de-peering.  It was noted that
   “de-peering” is an issue which is more relevant in other
   legislative/regulatory instruments and is not part of the proposed Single
   Market Regulation (relevant instruments are: Review of Relevant markets, DG
   Comp investigations).  We explained that the European model of peering
   is currently being copied in the US, under the Open-IX initiative. MEP Del
   Castillo mentioned she would highlight this issue with her colleague MEP
   Trautmann.  Further information would be welcomed.
   4. We stressed the importance of engaging with the EU institutions,
   including of course the European Parliament,  and our collective
   willingness  to do so.  It is important that the Internet community is
   heard when proposed regulation, which affects the functioning of the
   Internet, is being developed and discussed.



Next Steps:

   1. MEP Del Castillo’s text will go to translation this Thursday 14
   November. Suggestions are still welcome.  If you will submit feedback,
   please ensure you provide them in the form of proposed modifications to the
   current text, and with a justification why this change is needed. For those
   who want to engage individually, the MEP contact details can be found here:
   http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96945/MARIETJE_SCHAAKE_home.htmland
   http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28390/PILAR_DEL+CASTILLO+VERA_home.html

Moving forward / Recommendations

   1. This time we were faced with particularly short time-frames between
   proposed legislation “leaving” the Commission and then being debated in
   Council and Parliament.  It is however also more difficult in general
   correcting many things once they have been drafted and agreed by the
   Commission. We should therefore  try and engage sooner in the legislative
   process. This means ideally before any legislation is actually proposed
   (i.e. talking directly to the European Commission). It is believed that
   Commission officials would welcome views from the Internet community. We
   should therefore start to establish a list of interlocutors and contacts so
   we could provide appropriate expertise. We should also seek to establish a
   view on what the Commission is going to do - in terms of their own forward
   planning.
   2. Feedback and comment on any and all of this is most welcome on the
   list  mailto:cooperation-wg at ripe.net



Alain Van Gaever
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