On June 1st 2007, Media and Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding announced that the European Commission (EC) is in the final stage of its work on concrete proposals for the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications Networks and Services (Telecom Package).

At the end of October 2007, the EC will publish its legislative proposals that will then be followed by the co-decision procedure with the European Parliament and Council.

The EC proposals have two main pillars:
- Ensure that competition in telecom markets (in particular in the broadband sector) is strengthened, also by making available radio spectrum for wireless broadband services;
- Complete Europe’s internal market for telecommunications.

According to Commissioner Reding, telecommunications shall be regulated at a European level. Indeed, national markets present several shortages (lack of regulators independence, resources and instruments) and the cooperation among national regulators is not sufficiently developed to deal with cross-border issues or issues which have an impact on the internal market competition.

In order to develop an internal market for telecom operators, therefore, the European Commission should be the European telecom regulator.

To see Mrs. Reding’s speech, please click here.