16/02/24 (Agence Europe) – On Friday, 16 February, Member States’ permanent representatives green-lit the interinstitutional agreement on deploying high-speed networks in the EU (‘Gigabit Infrastructure Act’) (see EUROPE 13344/5). The European Parliament and the Council of the EU had reached a provisional political agreement on the subject on 6 February. The text still has to be approved by the European Parliament – first in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and then during the plenary session. The EU27 will then have to formally ratify the agreement. The piece of legislation will apply 18 months after it enters into force, with the exception of certain specific provisions that will come into effect at a later date. (TM)