19/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 19 June, the Court of Justice of the European Communities found against France for failing to correctly transpose the directive on the universal service (2002/22/EC), particularly with regard to the provision of telephone services. French law currently does not allow any company which cannot operate across the whole of France to be designated to fulfil a universal service obligation. This means, in fact, that the only company which can be designated is France Télécom, the former national incumbent. The Court pointed out that this discrimination is an infringement of Article 8 of the directive. The aim of providing a reliable service across the whole of France could, the Court said, also be met by designating several companies if necessary, which would be less harmful to free competition in the sector (Case C-220/07). (C.D./transl.rt)