The deadline for the EU-wide application of the Directives
establishing a new regulatory framework for electronic
communications expired on 25 July 2003. Eight Member States had
been notified by the Commission on 8 October for failing to fully
implement the new framework (see
EurActiv 9 October 2003).
The Commission is now taking the procedure one step further
against seven Member States (Spain has complied with the Directive
in the meantime) for continued failure to transpose the Framework,
Authorisations, Access, and Universal Service Directives into their
national legislations. The seven EU countries concerned are
Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and
Portugal.
If these countries fail to comply within the next two months,
the Commission has the option to refer the case to the European
Court of Justice.