Brussels, 16/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - During her address on Thursday to the 2006 conference of the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA), EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding recommended setting up a 'European Telecoms Authority' 'that would work together with national regulators in a system similar to the European System of Central Banks.'
Viviane Reding explained: 'For me, it is clear that the most effective and least bureaucratic way to achieve a real level playing field for telecom operator across the EU would be to replace the present game of 'ping pong' between national regulators and the European Commission by an independent European telecom authority that would work together with national regulators in a system similar to the European System of Central Banks. In such a system, national regulators would continue to act as direct contact points with operators and could directly analyse the market as they do today, but would have to operate as a system, and in line with the guidelines and decisions of their supranational level. This is certainly an idea that will deserve further reflection in the months to come.' (ol)