WRITTEN QUESTION E-0321/02 by Sir Robert Atkins (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Preparations for the European Council meeting in Barcelona.
Date: 2002-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Council, communications systems, liberalisation of the market, radio telecommunications, telecommunications, telecommunications policy, waveband

C 172 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

(2002/C 172 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0321/02

by Sir Robert Atkins (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Preparations for the European Council meeting in Barcelona

The 2000 Lisbon European Council called on ‘the Member States and, where appropriate, the Community
to ensure that the frequency requirements for future mobile communications systems are met in a timely
and efficient manner. Fully integrated and liberalised telecommunications markets should be completed by
the end of 2001’. Does the Commission believe that this target was met?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

The Lisbon European Council
‘the Council and the European
(23 and 24 March 2000) called on:
Parliament to conclude as early as possible in 2001 work on the legislative proposals announced by the
Commission following its 1999 review of the telecoms regulatory framework’. It also called on:
‘the
Member States and, where appropriate, the Community to ensure that the frequency requirements for
future mobile communications systems are met in a timely and efficient manner. Fully integrated and
liberalised telecommunications markets should be completed by the end of 2001’.

The new regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services was adopted by the
Council of Ministers on 14 February 2002 (1). The new legislative package aims at completing the internal
market for the information society by establishing a more harmonised framework for the regulation of
electronic communications networks and services. As part of this package, a Decision on a regulatory
framework for radio spectrum policy in the Community was adopted (2). Under the terms of this Decision,
the Commission will be able to regularly discuss radio spectrum policy issues with the Member States and
in co-operation with relevant international organisations while, where necessary, appropriate technical
implementing measures and legislation can be adopted with the aim to ensure harmonised conditions with
regard to the availability and efficient use of radio spectrum.

far as

the telecoms

liberalisation of

stated that:
As
‘telecommunications markets in the majority of Member States were opened to competition from
1 January 1998 with the last market open from 1 January 2001. Today the whole population in twelve
Member States is able to choose between more than five operators for long-distance and international calls
and in six Member States for local calls. This competition will be reinforced and strengthened once the
new legislation recently agreed comes into force in Spring 2003’ (3).

the Commission has

is concerned,

sector

Finally, with regard to frequency requirements for future mobile communications systems, it should be
noted that all Member States have reserved frequencies for the provision of third generation mobile
communications (including the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) which are expected to play
an important role in making European citizens part of a true information society.

(1) 6111/02 (Press 29-G).
(2) No yet published.
(3) SEC(2002) 29/2.

(2002/C 172 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0323/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Export of live cattle to third countries

How many head of cattle are exported annually from EU countries to the Middle East and North Africa?