In the future everyone who has paid for the right to watch, listen or read online content from a provider in their home country, will be allowed to do so in any other EU country where they are staying for a limited period if MEPs in the European Parliament pass this legislation today (18th May).

This regulation would not only allow users to enjoy services that they have paid for, regardless of where they are in the EU. It is also expected to discourage piracy by promoting access to legally acquired content.

The measure complements the end of roaming, which will become a reality on 15 June 2017. MEPs are also considering new rules on geo-blocking to ensure that online sellers do not discriminate against consumers because of where they live in the EU.

Nearly 11% of European households had a subscription to a video on demand service in 2016. Their number is estimated to double by 2020, according to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Netflix takes the lion’s share with 54% of the EU’s subscription market.

Reporter: Fiona Grahame