Valuing action over talk: Neelie Kroes knows why

Posted on January 29, 2010 | Filed Under digital content

Today, BEREC officially started its work. And while it is certainly not a “superagency”, I do not believe it is just “a powerless talking shop”. And, for that matter, it definitely is not an EU telecoms regulator either, even if Commissioner Reding called  it just this in her speech today. Reding was not the only Commissioner present, she was joined by her soon-to-be successor, Neelie Kroes, who in her speech emphasised she really values action over talk.

Looking at the video of her hearing in the European Parliament, I do understand this value-chain: talk is not her strongest point. Take a look at the Video of the hearing, and for instance start at 18:04:24, when the Chairwoman of the Committe on Culture and Education, Doris Pack,  asks Kroes for her defnition of a balanced dual broadcasting-system and the role of public service media. The Chairman of the hearing gives Kroes the floor, saying “Ms Kroes - straight question, straight answer!” And then comes Kroes’ answer:

Neelie Kroes: It is a very clear question and we are aware that depending on the public broadcasting services we try to deal with principles all over the place the same, and tailor-made approaches; but in itself we should be quite clear, the definition has to be as clear as crystal, for otherwise we are not getting a real result out of our discussions. And what we did in the past in competition, in competition issues, was, I imagine, quite acceptable also for you, to find a way in which the diversity is still there and that is a big issue, that is one of those issues that we are fond of in Europe and that is still a competitive market in which at the end of the day the consumer is able to pick out what he or she is preferring.

Everything clear as crystal? I do think Commissioner Kroes could learn a thing or two from the legendary Sir Humphrey of the BBC-series “Yes, Minister”, who put it much better:

Jim Hacker: “When you give your evidence to the Think Tank, are you going to support my view that the Civil Service is over manned and feather-bedded, or not? Yes or no? Straight answer.”
Sir Humphrey: “Well Minister, if you ask me for a straight answer, then I shall say that, as far as we can see, looking at it by and large, taking one thing with another in terms of the average of departments, then in the final analysis it is probably true to say, that at the end of the day, in general terms, you would probably find that, not to put too fine a point on it, there probably wasn’t very much in it one way or the other. As far as one can see, at this stage.”
Jim Hacker: “Is that Yes or No?”
Sir Humphrey: “Yes and no.”
Jim Hacker: “Supposed you weren’t asked for a straight answer?”
Sir Humphrey: “Then I should play for time, Minister.”

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