The European Parliament yesterday voted for three draft directives
dealing with a proposed new regulatory framework for electronic
communications networks and services (proposals for Directives on
respectively authorisation, access and interconnection and the
so-called Framework Directive).
The directives would give the European Commission power to stop
national regulatory authorities, such as Oftel in the UK, acting in
a way that would be detrimental to the single market.
These three directives are part of a package of eight proposals
submitted by the Commission which together are intended to provide
a new framework for regulating electronic communications networks
and services, thereby streamlining the current legal framework of
28 different legislative texts. The Commission's aim is to increase
competition, so as to bring consumers lower prices, wider choice
and better services. It is also seeking to bring the legal
framework into line with technological changes.
The new legal framework will cover all satellite-based and
terrestrial communications networks, i.e. both the public telephone
network and networks using the internet protocol, as well as cable
television, mobile and terrestrial broadcasting networks.
The new directives are a response to the Lisbon European
Council's call for a fully integrated and liberalised
telecommunications market to be created by the end of 2001 in order
to pave the way for the transition to a digital, knowledge-based
society.
The directives will be next considered by ministers in April and
then return to the Parliament for a second reading. They are
unlikely to become law in Member States until 2003.
