Brussels, 09/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to launch infringement proceedings against eight Member States for failure to notify transposition measures on electronic communications. The Member States are Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal. The Member States set themselves the deadline of 24 July 2003 for the transposition of the main provisions of the new framework but as of 6 October 2003, seven countries had taken the necessary action. The Member States concerned have two months to reply to the Commission.
The Parliament and Council adopted in March 2002 the new package of sector specific regulation designed for "the new regulatory framework for electronic communications", which aims to harmonise the regulation in the whole of the EU and guarantee legal security in a single market in the electronic communications sector. This package (which contains four directives and a decision) stipulates that Member States should have transposed these directive into national law by 24 July and apply those national transposition measures from 25 July 2003. The Commission indicates in its press statement that it will continue to take the necessary measures of the infringement proceedings when Member States do not respect their obligations. It considered, however, that formal infringement proceedings ought to be accompanied by "alternative means" and with this goal in mind it would continue to work with the national regulation authorities, such as with the Communications Committee (COCOM). The Commission will question Member States that have not yet transposed the directive, at the next COCOM meeting on 12 November.