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Convergence

Published: Thursday 7 March 2002

Traditionally, telecommunications, media and information technology were operated on different networks, used different "platforms" and fell under quite different legal regimes. The economic and technical convergence of electronic communications poses serious challenges to EU lawmakers.

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In a first step, the Commission on 3 December 1997 presented a 'Green Paper on the Convergence of the Telecommunications, Media and Information Technology Sectors, and the Implications for Regulation. Towards an Information Society Approach'. In 1999 the results of the Green Paper were presented. Its input was taken into account for the new telecoms regulatory framework, due to enter into force in the Member States in July 2003.

Links Policy Summary

European Union

EurLex: Directive on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (24 April 2002) [FR] [DE]

Commission: Commissioner Liikanen: Convergence and the challenges to Europe's broadcasting industry (22 November 2002)

Commission: The Convergence of the Telecommunications, Media and Information Technology Sectors, and the Implications for Regulation, COM(1999)108 - Results of the Public Consultation on the Green Paper, COM(97)623 (10 March 1999) [FR] [DE]

EurLex: Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the 'Green Paper on the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectors and the implications for regulation: Towards an information society approach'; CdR 149/98fin (2 December 1998) [FR] [DE]

EurLex: Green Paper on the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectors and the implications for regulation: Towards an information society approach (98/C 373/05) (3 December 1997) [FR] [DE]

Commission: Convergence

DG Competition: "EU competition law, convergence, and the media industry" (speech by Miguel Mendes Pereira, DG Competition), Law Society of England and Wales (April 2002)

Study for the Commission (Political Intelligence): "Policy Implications of Convergence of Naming, Numbering and Addressing": Executive summary , Final report (September 2003)

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