Free Wi-Fi: EU publicity stunt of 120 million euros

After the free Interrail Pass, which turned into a fiasco, the traditional groups in the European Parliament are now also supporting the proposal of the European Commission to dole out free Wi-Fi in the European Union by the end of this year. To the great displeasure of MEP Anneleen Van Bossuyt, who is following up that dossier for the ECR The N-VA is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a conservative, eurorealistic parliamentary group in the European Parliament. The N-VA shares their realistic view of the European project and also advocates for the correct and intensive application of the subsidiarity principle. For example, we must not be afraid to ask ourselves if it would be better to leave certain European initiatives to the Member States. The N-VA also identifies with the emphases that the ECR places on the social-economic issues. Since the 2014 elections, the ECR has become the third largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament. ECR group: “It is not Europe’s job to install free Wi-Fi in municipalities that are not doing so of their own accord. Moreover, only cities and municipalities that do not yet offer Wi-Fi can claim European money. That is simply unfair to the municipalities that already provide Wi-Fi to their residents and to tourists.”

In an initial phase, the European Commission is dishing out 120 million euros in order to equip 8,000 cities and municipalities with free Wi-Fi in libraries, parks and public transport. “But Europe didn’t do an analysis of where that money would best be invested and what its precise impact would be. This makes it difficult to predict exactly who is going to get the free Wi-Fi. It is, however, certain that the money will go to municipalities in EU Member States that are not investing in the internet. In this way, the good students are being punished,” says Anneleen Van Bossuyt with regret. “And it’s also certain that it will once again be the taxpayer who has to cough up to cover ridiculous costs.”

Financial hangover

Furthermore, the municipalities receiving the free Wi-Fi installation are in danger of ending up with a financial hangover. “They must pay the subscriptions themselves, while the Parliament prohibits restrictions on use in terms of either consumption or content,” Anneleen Van Bossuyt explains. “So, using European tax money, people will be able to download hours and hours of films or browse pornographic websites. That is irresponsible.”

Anneleen Van Bossuyt calls on the European Commission to invest in infrastructure which can be enjoyed by the whole European economy, instead of free Wi-Fi in remote Romanian mountain villages: “If Europe truly wants to develop the digital economy, it must invest in super-fast internet and 5G, not in the latest in a string of self-serving promotional campaigns,” the MEP concludes.