An element of the draft Telecom Package is functional separation, which will be introduced as a last-resort remedy when competition is not working properly in the markets. It is already expected to be put forward in the Italian market. Mrs. Reding commented that to “enable regulators to do their job properly, legislators will need in particular to define clearly the required elements of this remedy and the conditions under which it may be used by an independent telecom regulator”.

The draft Telecom Package also suggests to create a European Telecom Market Authority (ETMA) which would help the European Regulatory Group (ERG) in its work. “The new regulatory system should strengthen the independence of national regulators, enable regulators and the Commission to arrive faster at more ambitious common positions and thereby level the regulatory playing field in Europe, in the interests of consumers and pan-European operators" Mrs. Reding said. The prerogative of the European wide regulatory authority is not yet set.
 
Mr. Calabrò who is also the Chairman of ERG said he was glad that Mrs. Reding shared his vision: “The goal of a consistent internal market can be achieved in a federal cooperative model that would link strong and independent national regulators”.

Next steps:
Extraordinary ERG and European Platform of Regulatory Authority (EPRA) conference in Capri, in the presence of Mrs Reding, October 18th-19th, 2007
Launch of the draft Telecom Package, November 13th, 2007
The draft Telecom Package could enter into force in early 2010

To access the press release, please click here