Internet in border regions

27.9.2018

Question for written answer E-004917-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Jeroen Lenaers (PPE) , Esther de Lange (PPE)

On 27 September 2018, it emerged that residents of Schinveld in the munipality of Onderbanken in the Netherlands had no Internet access[1]. This is despite the fact that licences had been issued for the extension of Internet cabling from Germany into the Netherlands so that residents of this border municipality would also have a good Internet connection.

Regulation (EU) No 2017/1953 of the European Parliament and of the Council refers to the need to promote Internet access in the EU, particularly in rural areas and at remote locations. It also states that the budget for subsidies for this purpose should be allocated in a geographically-balanced manner.

1. Is the Commission aware of this incident in Schinveld?

2. Does the Commission agree that residents and businesses in border areas should also have access to the Internet?

3. Does the Commission agree that rural areas which do not have Internet access because of their location near a national border should be assigned priority in granting subsidies for Internet connectivity?

• [1] https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20180926_00074742/glasvezelnet-stuit-op-grens De Limburger, 27/09/2018