The European Parliament today voted to end geo-blocking of online goods and services in the EU. The vote means that websites and online retailers will not be able to block people accessing or purchasing from their website just because they are in another EU state.

 

 

“This is a positive story for EU citizens; it will mean that they have access to a wider range of good and services. The regulation will enhance consumer choice and will allow consumers to access goods and services from other member states more easily and for cheaper prices. Parliament’s negotiators inserted a ‘review clause’ in the law, which requires the EU Commission to assess how the laws are working within two years to then expand the scope of the ban on geo-blocking.”

 

 

“This agreement will increase consumer choice and is another step to creating a truly digital EU. Firms will no longer be able to rip off customers by charging wildly different prices in different member states – as consumers can now search for the best deals from any EU country. The S&D Group is fighting to ensure that we have the same rules and protections in the online and offline world; we cannot allow the internet to be a lawless zone.”