Modernisation of the regulations establishing an .eu top-level domain name

EESC opinion: Modernisation of the regulations establishing an .eu top-level domain name

Key points:

  • The .eu top-level domain (TLD) is the domain name of the European Union and its citizens. It is assigned to the EU and is managed by the European Commission. The EESC supports the objectives contained in the Regulation proposed by the Commission on the implementation and functioning of the .eu Top Level Domain name and repealing Regulation (EC) N° 733/2002 and Commission Regulation (EC) N° 874/2002. The aim of the proposal is, on the one hand, to deal with outdated provisions and, on the other hand, to be able to react more quickly to upcoming developments.
  • The Committee endorses the widening of the eligibility conditions for physical persons to obtain a .eu domain name. Residence within a Member State of the European Union is no longer a prerequisite. Allowing any national of a Member State, whatever their country of residence, to obtain a .eu domain name will not only increase the profile of the EU, but will also explicitly demonstrate an affinity with the EU. The EESC supports the creation of a Multistakeholder Council and wishes to be represented in  it.
  • The EESC takes note that the registry is appointed after an open tender procedure but wants to stress that everything should be undertaken to maintain .eu operations without any disruptions. The Committee requests that the entire process is made wholly transparent. All the selection criteria should be clearly defined well in advance, in particular if the registry could or could not be a commercial company. The EESC wishes to underline the fact that due to the importance of an internet identifier for EU citizens, companies and organisations, the .eu domain name has to be considered as a Service of General Interest (SGI). Therefore the registry has to be a non-profit organisation, dealing only with the operational management of the domain name, and any surplus has to be passed to the EU budget.