Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-06-12-Speech-2-323"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-06-12"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Universal service in electronic communications2
dcterms:Language	"el"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20010612.16.2-323"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-06-12-Speech-2-3242
lpv:speaker	lp:Mihail Papayannakis2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation for relations with South-east Europe (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 member_of_the_bureau; EUL/NGL (1999-10-13--2004-07-19)3 substitute; ECON (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Temporary committee on the Echelon interception system (2000-07-06--2001-09-05)3 substitute; PETI (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 vice-chair; PECH (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Synaspismos tis Aristeras kai tis Proodou (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Madam President, we agree with the rapporteur's description of the problem and thank him for that. However, I think that we should not be too optimistic when it comes to competition. Competition fosters – and it is only logical that it should foster – reductions in costs, consumer choice and discrimination depending on the customer's status. We all know the ways of the market. That is why, without wishing to embark on general theories, Madam President, Mr Harbour, I should like to say that the series of amendments which we have proposed is designed mainly to protect consumers not from threats from others, but from competitive conditions per se. In other words, we want a universal service which is accessible to all and of the same standard for all. For example, a service which allows everyone to get on to the Internet at the same speed anytime, anywhere, without discriminating between customers depending on where they are. Without discriminating between customers depending on how they want to pay their subscription. We have seen it happen. We have also called for proper consultation with consumer associations when reviewing the conditions under which licences are granted. We also want terms in contracts to be simple, familiar, comprehensible and comparable and for this to be compulsory so that customers really can change suppliers. We already have competition. If a customer is to be able to change supplier, he must know in advance of any changes in price for example, so that he can opt out in time. He must be able to keep his telephone number, which the Commission is quite right to propose, and he must be able to change company without incurring charges. Account must also be taken of the need to warn customers about the dangers, for example, of mobile telephones. Customers' rights must be clearly set out somewhere and they must be able to read and use them. All this is not intended merely to make the Commission's life difficult, nor do we believe that it should be left up to each individual Member State. We need general principles which specifically protect consumers because that is the way to make better progress here."@en1

Named graphs describing this resource:

The resource appears as object in 2 triples

Context graph