Brussels, 12/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 11 March, the EU Council of Ministers formally adopted a regulation giving guidelines for the deployment and interoperability of telecoms infrastructure projects of common interest that are part of the trans-European telecoms networks (TEN-Telecoms). The final adoption of the draft regulation by the Council follows an agreement reached with the European Parliament in first reading on 6 November 2013 under the Lithuanian Presidency. The European Parliament adopted it in plenary on 26 February 2014. The regulation covers digital services and high-speed network projects which will contribute to growth, in line with the EUROPE 2020 strategy. It lays down funding priorities and criteria for deciding which projects are eligible for EU financing. (IL)