Broadband connectivity in Castile-La Mancha

3.7.2018

Question for written answer E-003672-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto (S&D)

The lack of broadband connectivity in many rural and sparsely populated areas in Castile-La Mancha (Spain) continues to be a problem. Despite the Commission’s various efforts, such as the WiFi4EU initiative, which supports the installation of state-of-the-art Wi-Fi equipment in the centres of community life, some rural residents of Castile-La Mancha still have no access to broadband. That lack of connectivity constitutes an obstacle to the completion of the digital single market and exacerbates the Europe-wide problem of rural depopulation.

Against that backdrop, the Commission must continue to allocate EU funds to support cohesion policy with the aim of reducing inequalities between citizens and regions, and it must maintain the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) operational programme for Castile-La Mancha beyond 2020 so that technologies can be used more widely and their quality and access to them can be improved.

What are the Commission’s expectations in this respect? Does it intend to continue allocating ERDF funds to Castile-La Mancha after 2020?