Brussels, 07/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - Member States have made good progress in bringing their legislation in line with EU telecoms rules (the 2002 regulatory framework, currently being revised, see EUROPE 9222), explained the European Commission on Friday. On 20 June 2006, when Greece fell into line, all Member States have now officially transposed the EU rules into domestic legislation and 18 infringement proceedings have therefore been closed. From 2002 onwards, 80 infringement proceedings were launched concerning telecoms rules, covering all Member States apart from Denmark, but progress still needs to be made, explains the Commission, and five new cases have been opened. Four of them concern non-conformity of the national "must carry" rules with the Universal Service Directive in Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels), the Netherlands and Finland. The other case concerns the failure to grant "rights of way" in Cyprus. Proceedings are still pending against three Member States (Finland, Latvia and Poland). European Court of Justice proceedings are being brought against Poland and Latvia for failing to ensure the publication of a comprehensive directory and a comprehensive inquiry service. Finland faces infringement proceedings for failing to ensure that its national telecoms authorities have sufficient powers to regulate the market for terminating fixed to mobile calls.
The eighteen cases that have been closed include nine closed following the adoption of new legislation or other implementation measures taken by the Member States. These concern Cyprus and Slovenia with regard to the independence of the national regulatory authority (NRA), Estonia concerning the powers of the national regulator, the Netherlands with regard to the Access Directive, Slovakia with regard to both the Access and the Universal Service directives, the Czech Republic and Latvia with regard to the ePrivacy Directive, and Sweden with regard to the transition from the previous telecoms rules to the current framework. Following the publication of a comprehensive directory and a comprehensive inquiry service in the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia, another five pending cases have been closed. The Commission has also closed three number portability cases since this service is now fully available in the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania. “I am satisfied that national measures to enforce EU telecoms rules are getting results", said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. “It is good news for consumers that comprehensive directory and enquiry services are being made available in almost all Member States. Many users are also now availing themselves of the possibility, foreseen in EU rules, to keep their numbers when switching to cheaper operators. However, we remain vigilant and are launching new infringement proceedings whenever necessary.”