EU telecoms package: “Better regulation”

The adopted EU Telecoms package modernises the legal framework for electronic communications and services in the European Union.

The existing EU regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services comprises five Directives, the Framework Directive and the Specific Directives:

• Framework Directive 2002/21/EC
• Access Directive 2002/19/EC
• Authorisation Directive 2002/20/EC
• Universal Service Directive 2002/22/EC
• Directive on privacy and electronic communications 2002/58/EC


“Better Regulation Directive”


One part of the EU telecoms reform package was the overhaul of the three first directives mentioned above, namely the Framework Directive 2002/21/EC, the Access Directive 2002/19/EC and the Authorisation Directive 2002/20/EC:



DIRECTIVE 2009/140/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 November 2009 amending Directives 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, 2002/19/EC on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities, and 2002/20/EC on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services. This text with EEA relevance was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) 18.12.2009 L 337/37.


Materials


All but the most hardened readers might find the 76 recitals presenting the reasons for the reform and the text of the adopted amendments in Directive 2009/140 hard going, so here are a few references to more digestible materials.



Publication in the Official Journal was accompanied by a press release from the Commission, with links to earlier statements: New Telecoms Rules enter into force (IP 09/1966; 18 December 2009).



Commissioner Viviane Reding’s speech 23 November 2009 outlines the Commission’s view on regulatory issues in the electronic communications markets.


The European Commission’s proposals during the two year process are available on the web page: Legislative proposals.




Ralf Grahn



P.S. Read why Julien Frisch recommends Bloggingportal.eu, the multilingual aggregator of euroblogs (18 December 2009).