Regels voor telecommunicaties: 11 lidstaten moeten EU-regelgeving doorvoeren (en)

Today, the Commission sent letters to eleven EU Member States for failing to implement properly EU rules on electronic communications, including telecommunications. The Member States involved in this further round of Treaty infringement proceedings are the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Finland. The key issues at stake include the independence of the national telecoms regulator, the requirement of number portability and of comprehensive subscriber directories, designation of "universal service" providers, and the availability of the European emergency number 112.

"The EU rules opening up national telecommunication markets must be fully and correctly implemented if European consumers and business users are to get the full benefits of competitive electronic communications services such as high-speed internet connections and affordable mobile communications", commented Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. "Our aim is to get the job done and to complete the internal market in this key sector of the economy as soon as possible".

Since 2002 the EU electronic communications rules have stimulated competition, innovation and investment in services such as broadband internet access. They also protect consumers' interests where competition has not yet developed. The Commission has shown that it will use its full powers to ensure correct implementation of these rules and has already opened proceedings against ten Member States earlier this year (see IP/05/430)

This latest round of infringement proceedings tackles issues of direct relevance to users and to the effectiveness of Member States' regulatory regimes. While most proceedings are still in the first phase (letter of formal notice), others have already reached the pre-court phase of a reasoned opinion: