EU negotiators have agreed new rules that will allow European viewers to use online subscriptions to movies, sports and music when travelling around the European Union.
Agreement was reached Tuesday evening by European Parliament negotiators. Proposals were initially put forward in December 2015.
It is the first agreement related to the modernisation on EU copyright rules as proposed by the Commission in the Digital Single Market strategy.
Vice-President in charge of the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip welcomed the agreement: “Today’s agreement will bring concrete benefits to Europeans. People who have subscribed to their favourite series, music and sports events at home will be able to enjoy them when they travel in Europe. This is a new important step in breaking down barriers in the Digital Single Market”.
The agreement comes just a week after a separate agreement on roaming charges.
In a survey carried out in 2015, one in three Europeans wanted cross-border portability. For young people, this possibility is even more important. Half of people aged between 15 and 39 years old thought that portability and accessing the service they subscribe to when travelling in Europe is important.
Future regulation will mean a French consumer subscribing to Canal Plus online will be able to access their content while on holiday in Croatia.
The agreed text must now be formally confirmed by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. Once adopted, the rules will become applicable in all EU Member States by beginning of 2018 as the Regulation grants providers and right holders a 9-month period to prepare for the application of the new rules.
