Brussels, 22/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 22 March, the European Commission sent Bulgaria a reasoned opinion (warning letter) over violation of the competition directive in the market for digital terrestrial broadcasting. In 2009, Bulgaria assigned the five spectrum lots available for digital terrestrial broadcasting via two contest procedures, limiting without justification the number of undertakings that could enter the market concerned. Moreover, the selection criteria of the contest procedures were disproportionate and therefore not in line with the requirements of the Competition, Authorisation and Framework Directives. Applicants were not allowed to have links with content providers (TV channels operators), including operators active only outside Bulgaria, or with broadcasting network operators. The country now has two months to inform the Commission of measures taken to remedy the breaches of EU law, failing which it may be sent to the European Court of Justice. The Commission welcomes Bulgaria's recent announcement of the launch of a tender procedure for the assignment of this spectrum. In December 2011, Bulgaria amended its legislation to allow for the launch of a new tender procedure by 1 September 2013, the date when the country will be changing from analogue to digital broadcasting. The Commission will check that the tender conditions are in line with EU directives and allow effective entry into the digital terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure market. (FG/transl.fl)