Brussels, 03/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a Joint statement sent to the European Commission following its AGM in Bratislava on 26 and 27 October, ETNO (European Public Telecommunications Network Operators) calsl for a coherent review of the electronic communications legislative framework to introduce deregulation in the industry. The Commission ended its consultation process on this subject last week. Although competition is developing rapidly and new services are being introduced by new market players, the framework has not yet led to a reduction in legislation as hoped when it came into force in 2002 but has actually led to the adoption of new measures to cover new networks and services and has also led to greater intervention, explains ETNO with regret. It says this policy is wholly inappropriate and flies in the face of the current market dynamics, seriously jeopardising investment and competitiveness. Introducing compulsory access criteria for infrastructure funded by operators already in place to the benefit of newcomers acts as a discouragement for companies, which no longer have guarantees of making a return on investment, explains ETNO, arguing for the criteria for use and access to new networks to be negotiated commercially. Noting that Europe has to face up to increasingly tough competition from the United States and Asia, ETO urges the Commission 'to make the right choices for the future and not undermine growth in a sector which is driving EU competitiveness. (il)