Press Release: Telecoms: European Commission welcomes EU Ministers’ approval of broad reform to bring about a competitive single telecoms market

On 20 November 2009 the Council of EU Ministers unanimously approved the EU's telecoms reform package, first proposed by the European Commission in 2007. The Council decision came after a political agreement on the package was reached in a breakthrough meeting between the European Parliament and Council on 5 November. The new rules will enhance competition and investment in Europe's telecoms market, by giving more certainty to companies investing in high-speed optical fibre and wireless networks. It will also open up airwaves for new mobile services. The European Parliament will vote the following week, in its Strasbourg plenary session, to formally endorse the telecoms package. The reformed telecoms rules will become EU law once they are published in the EU's Official Journal in December 2009.

European Commission: MEMO/09/513: EU Telecoms Reform: 12 reforms to pave way for stronger consumer rights, an open internet, a single European telecoms market and high-speed internet connections for all citizens http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/513&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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