Follow-up to Written Question E-004600/17 on Geo-blocking of EU citizens living on islands

29.9.2017

Question for written answer E-006085-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alfred Sant (S&D)

In its answer to Written Question E-004600/17, the Commission gave a general idea of its proposal on addressing unjustified geo-blocking. Nevertheless, it did not successfully address the issue of EU consumers residing on islands.

In its answer, the Commission makes the case for online sales without delivery across borders, where no justification for treating customers differently will be accepted. While it is objectively justified to apply higher, but proportionate, delivery prices for overseas territories, EU customers should otherwise be treated uniformly. This appears to be a prerequisite for a digital single market. Is the Commission indicating, however, that sellers will still be allowed to treat deliveries across borders, and particularly overseas, differently?

Moreover, customers who are island residents frequently encounter barriers that prompt merchants to restrict the online cross-border supply of products and services, and they also face geo-blocking practices such as the refusal to sell. Consumers put in time and effort on a website, attempting to make a cross-border online purchase before understanding that the retailer will not sell to them. How will the proposal specifically address cases of refusal of sale to consumers who live on islands?