CELEX: 62005CJ0426
Language: en
Date: 2008-02-21
Title: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 21 February 2008.#Tele2 Telecommunication GmbH v Telekom-Control-Kommission.#Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgerichtshof - Austria.#Electronic communications - Networks and services - Common regulatory framework - Articles 4 and 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) - Appeals - Administrative market analysis procedure.#Case C-426/05.

Case C-426/05
      Tele2 Telecommunication GmbH
      v
      Telekom-Control-Kommission
      (Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Austria))
      (Electronic communications – Networks and services – Common regulatory framework – Articles 4 and 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) – Appeals – Administrative market analysis procedure)
      Summary of the Judgment
      1.        Approximation of laws – Electronic communications networks and services – Regulatory framework – Directive 2002/21
      (European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/21, Arts 4(1) and 16(3))
      2.        Approximation of laws – Electronic communications networks and services – Regulatory framework – Directive 2002/21
      (European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/21, Art. 4)
      1.        The terms user ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’ for the purposes of Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/21 on a common regulatory
         framework for electronic communications networks and services, which grants any user or undertaking providing such networks
         and/or services a right to appeal against a decision taken by a national regulatory authority by which it is affected, and
         the term party ‘affected’ within the meaning of Article 16(3) of that directive, which grants to the latter, in the case of
         a decision to withdraw obligations placed on the undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market, the
         right to be given an appropriate period of notice of that withdrawal, must be interpreted as being applicable not only to
         an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market which is subject to a decision of a national regulatory
         authority taken in the context of a market analysis procedure referred to in Article 16 of that directive and which is the
         addressee of that decision, but also to users and undertakings in competition with such an undertaking which are not themselves
         addressees of that decision, but the rights of which are adversely affected by it. 
      
      (see paras 43, 48, operative part 1)
      2.        A provision of national law which, in the context of non-adversarial market analysis proceedings, grants party status only
         to undertakings (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market and in respect of which specific regulatory obligations
         are imposed, amended or withdrawn is not, in principle, contrary to Article 4 of Directive 2002/21 on a common regulatory
         framework for electronic communications networks and services. However, it is for the national court to ensure that national
         procedural law guarantees the safeguarding of the rights which users and undertakings in competition with an undertaking (formerly)
         having significant power on the relevant market derive from the Community legal order in a manner which is not less favourable
         than that in which comparable domestic rights are safeguarded and which does not prejudice the effectiveness of the legal
         protection of those users and undertakings guaranteed in Article 4 of that directive.
      
      (see para. 57, operative part 2)
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Second Chamber)
      21 February 2008 (*)
      
      (Electronic communications – Networks and services – Common regulatory framework – Articles 4 and 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) – Appeals – Administrative market analysis procedure)
      In Case C‑426/05,
      REFERENCE for a preliminary ruling under Article 234 EC from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Austria), made by decision of 22
         November 2005, received at the Court on 1 December 2005, in the proceedings
      
      Tele2 Telecommunication GmbH, formerly Tele2 UTA Telecommunication GmbH,
      
      v
      Telekom-Control-Kommission,
      THE COURT (Second Chamber),
      composed of C.W.A. Timmermans, President of the Chamber, L. Bay Larsen, K. Schiemann, P. Kūris (Rapporteur) and J.-C. Bonichot,
         Judges,
      
      Advocate General: M. Poiares Maduro,
      Registrar: J. Swedenborg, Administrator,
      having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 13 December 2006,
      after considering the observations submitted on behalf of:
      –        Tele2 Telecommunication GmbH, by M. Parschalk, Rechtsanwalt,
      –        the Austrian Government, by C. Pesendorfer and W. Bauer, acting as Agents,
      –        the Belgian Government, by A. Hubert, acting as Agent,
      –        the Danish Government, by J. Molde, N. Holst-Christensen and B. Weis Fogh, acting as Agents,
      –        the Italian Government, by I.M. Braguglia, acting as Agent, assisted by P. Gentili, avvocato dello Stato,
      –        the Slovene Government, by T. Mihelič, acting as Agent,
      –        the Commission of the European Communities, by C. Ladenburger and M. Shotter, acting as Agents,
      after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 15 February 2007,
      gives the following
      Judgment
      1        This reference for a preliminary ruling concerns the interpretation of Articles 4 and 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC of the European
         Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and
         services (Framework Directive) (OJ 2002 L 108, p. 33; ‘the Framework Directive’). 
      
      2        The reference has been made in the context of a dispute between Tele2 Telecommunication GmbH, formerly Tele2 UTA Telecommunication
         GmbH, an Austrian undertaking providing electronic communications networks and services (‘Tele2’) and the Telekom-Control-Kommission
         (Telecommunications Control Commission; ‘the TCK’) by reason of the latter’s refusal to grant the former the status of a party
         in administrative market analysis proceedings. 
      
       Legal context
       Community law
      3        Pursuant to recital 12 in the preamble to the Framework Directive: 
      
      ‘Any party who is the subject of a decision by a national regulatory authority should have the right to appeal to a body that
         is independent of the parties involved. This body may be a court. …’
      
      4        Article 4 of the Framework Directive, entitled ‘Right of appeal’, states:
      
      ‘1.      Member States shall ensure that effective mechanisms exist at national level under which any user or undertaking providing
         electronic communications networks and/or services who is affected by a decision of a national regulatory authority has the
         right of appeal against the decision to an appeal body that is independent of the parties involved. This body, which may be
         a court, shall have the appropriate expertise available to it to enable it to carry out its functions. Member States shall
         ensure that the merits of the case are duly taken into account and that there is an effective appeal mechanism. Pending the
         outcome of any such appeal, the decision of the national regulatory authority shall stand, unless the appeal body decides
         otherwise.
      
      2.      Where the appeal body referred to in paragraph 1 is not judicial in character, written reasons for its decision shall always
         be given. Furthermore, in such a case, its decision shall be subject to review by a court or tribunal within the meaning of
         Article 234 of the Treaty.’ 
      
      5        Article 6 of the Framework Directive, entitled ‘Consultation and transparency mechanism’, provides: 
      
      ‘Except in cases falling within Articles 7(6), 20 or 21, Member States shall ensure that where national regulatory authorities
         intend to take measures in accordance with this Directive or the Specific Directives which have a significant impact on the
         relevant market, they give interested parties the opportunity to comment on the draft measure within a reasonable period.
         National regulatory authorities shall publish their national consultation procedures. Member States shall ensure the establishment
         of a single information point through which all current consultations can be accessed. The results of the consultation procedure
         shall be made publicly available by the national regulatory authority, except in the case of confidential information in accordance
         with Community and national law on business confidentiality.’
      
      6        Article 7 of the Framework Directive, entitled ‘Consolidating the internal market for electronic communications’, states:
      
      ‘…
      3.      In addition to the consultation referred to in Article 6, where a national regulatory authority intends to take a measure
         which:
      
      (a)       falls within the scope of Articles 15 or 16 of this Directive, Articles 5 or 8 of Directive 2002/19/EC [of the European Parliament
         and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated
         facilities] (Access Directive) [OJ 2002 L 108, p. 7] or Article 16 of Directive 2002/22/EC [of the European Parliament and
         of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services]
         (Universal Service Directive) [OJ 2002 L 108, p. 51], and
      
      (b)      would affect trade between Member States,
      it shall at the same time make the draft measure accessible to the Commission and the national regulatory authorities in other
         Member States, together with the reasoning on which the measure is based, in accordance with Article 5(3), and inform the
         Commission and other national regulatory authorities thereof. National regulatory authorities and the Commission may make
         comments to the national regulatory authority concerned only within one month or within the period referred to in Article
         6 if that period is longer. The one-month period may not be extended.
      
      4.      Where an intended measure covered by paragraph 3 aims at:
      (a)      defining a relevant market which differs from those defined in the recommendation in accordance with Article 15(1), or
      (b)      deciding whether or not to designate an undertaking as having, either individually or jointly with others, significant market
         power, under Article 16(3), (4) or (5),
      
      and would affect trade between Member States and the Commission has indicated to the national regulatory authority that it
         considers that the draft measure would create a barrier to the single market or if it has serious doubts as to its compatibility
         with Community law and in particular the objectives referred to in Article 8, then the draft measure shall not be adopted
         for a further two months. This period may not be extended. Within this period the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure
         referred to in Article 22(2), take a decision requiring the national regulatory authority concerned to withdraw the draft
         measure. This decision shall be accompanied by a detailed and objective analysis of why the Commission considers that the
         draft measure should not be adopted together with specific proposals for amending the draft measure.
      
      5.      The national regulatory authority concerned shall take the utmost account of comments of other national regulatory authorities
         and the Commission and may, except in cases covered by paragraph 4, adopt the resulting draft measure and, where it does so,
         shall communicate it to the Commission.
      
      …’
      7        Article 8 of the Framework Directive, entitled ‘Policy objectives and regulatory principles’, states in paragraph 2:
      
      ‘The national regulatory authorities shall promote competition in the provision of electronic communications networks, electronic
         communications services and associated facilities and services by inter alia:
      
      (a)      ensuring that users, including disabled users, derive maximum benefit in terms of choice, price, and quality;
      (b)      ensuring that there is no distortion or restriction of competition in the electronic communications sector;
      (c)      encouraging efficient investment in infrastructure, and promoting innovation; and
      (d)      encouraging efficient use and ensuring the effective management of radio frequencies and numbering resources.’
      8        Article 16 of the Framework Directive, entitled ‘Market analysis procedure’, provides:
      
      ‘1.      As soon as possible after the adoption of the recommendation or any updating thereof, national regulatory authorities shall
         carry out an analysis of the relevant markets, taking the utmost account of the guidelines. Member States shall ensure that
         this analysis is carried out, where appropriate, in collaboration with the national competition authorities.
      
      2.      Where a national regulatory authority is required under Articles 16, 17, 18 or 19 of [the Universal Service Directive], or
         Articles 7 or 8 of [the Access Directive] to determine whether to impose, maintain, amend or withdraw obligations on undertakings,
         it shall determine on the basis of its market analysis referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article whether a relevant market
         is effectively competitive.
      
      3.      Where a national regulatory authority concludes that the market is effectively competitive, it shall not impose or maintain
         any of the specific regulatory obligations referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article. In cases where sector specific regulatory
         obligations already exist, it shall withdraw such obligations placed on undertakings in that relevant market. An appropriate
         period of notice shall be given to parties affected by such a withdrawal of obligations.
      
      4.      Where a national regulatory authority determines that a relevant market is not effectively competitive, it shall identify
         undertakings with significant market power on that market in accordance with Article 14 and the national regulatory authority
         shall on such undertakings impose appropriate specific regulatory obligations referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article or
         maintain or amend such obligations where they already exist.
      
      …
      6.      Measures taken according to the provisions of paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this Article shall be subject to the procedures referred
         to in Articles 6 and 7.’
      
       National law
       The 1991 General Law on Administrative Procedure
      9        Paragraph 8 of the 1991 General Law on Administrative Procedure (Allgemeines Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz 1991, BGBl. No 51/1991),
         in the version published during 2004 (BGBl. I No 10/2004), provides: 
      
      ‘Persons who avail themselves of an activity of the authority or to whom the activity of the authority relates shall be interested
         parties and, in so far as they are interested by virtue of a legal entitlement or a legal interest, they shall be parties
         to the proceedings.’
      
       The 2003 Law on Telecommunications 
      10      Paragraph 37 of the 2003 Law on Telecommunications (Telekommunikationsgesetz 2003, BGBl. I No 70/2003; ‘the TKG’), entitled
         ‘Market analysis procedure’, aims to implement Article 16 of the Framework Directive. That paragraph states the following:
         
      
      ‘1.      The regulatory authority shall, of its own motion, carry out at regular intervals, but at least every two years, an analysis
         of the relevant markets established by the regulation pursuant to Paragraph 36(1), taking account of the provisions of the
         European Communities. The objective of this procedure shall be, after it has been decided whether, on a specific relevant
         market, one or more undertakings have significant market power or whether effective competition exists on that market, to
         withdraw, maintain, amend or impose specific obligations.
      
      2.      Where the regulatory body decides in this procedure that one or more undertakings have significant market power on the relevant
         market and consequently no effective competition exists, it shall impose on that undertaking or those undertakings appropriate
         specific obligations pursuant to Paragraphs 38 to 46 or Paragraph 47(1). Existing specific obligations on undertakings shall,
         in so far as they concern the relevant markets, be amended or re-imposed by the regulatory authority in accordance with the
         results of the procedure, taking account of the regulatory objectives.
      
      3.      Where the regulatory authority decides on the basis of the procedure that effective competition exists on the relevant market
         and consequently no undertaking has significant market power, it may not – with the exception of Paragraph 47(2) – impose
         any obligations under subparagraph 2. In this case, the procedure relating to this market shall be discontinued by order of
         the regulatory authority without any formality having to be completed and that order shall be published. In so far as specific
         obligations exist on this market, they shall be withdrawn by that order. An appropriate period of no more than six months,
         laying down the time from which the withdrawal is effective, shall also be laid down in that order.
      
      …
      5.      Only undertakings in respect of which specific obligations are imposed, amended or withdrawn shall have the status of parties
         to these proceedings.
      
      …’
      11      Paragraph 128 of the TKG, entitled ‘Consultation procedure’, states:
      
      ‘1.      The Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology and the regulatory authority shall give interested persons the
         opportunity to comment, within a reasonable period, on draft implementing measures adopted pursuant to this Federal Law which
         will have a significant impact on the relevant market. Measures adopted pursuant to Paragraphs 91(4), 122 and 130 shall be
         excluded. The consultation procedure and the results thereof shall be made publicly available, save where Paragraph 125 stipulates
         otherwise.
      
      …
      4.      The Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology and the regulatory authority shall give interested persons the
         opportunity to comment, within a reasonable period, on matters concerning the rights of end users or consumers in connection
         with public communications services. They shall take account of these comments in so far as is appropriate, in particular
         where significant impact on the market is to be expected.
      
      …’
       The case in the main proceedings and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling 
      12      In the context of administrative market analysis proceedings conducted by the TCK, on 16 July 2004 Tele2 requested the latter
         to grant it party status and access to the file pursuant to Paragraph 37 of the TKG. 
      
      13      By decision of 6 September 2004 the TCK turned down that request on the ground that, under Paragraph 37(5) of the TKG, only
         undertakings in respect of which specific obligations were imposed, amended or withdrawn, and no other, could be party to
         market analysis proceedings. In its view, that was precisely not the case with regard to Tele2. 
      
      14      Tele2 lodged an appeal against that decision before the Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Higher Administrative Court) as it was of
         the view that a decision taken by the TCK in market analysis proceedings constitutes a decision for the purposes of the Framework
         Directive which affects not only the undertaking in respect of which specific obligations have been imposed, amended or withdrawn,
         but also its competitors. According to Tele2, that is because the rights which a competitor of the dominant undertaking has
         in respect of that undertaking depend directly on the result of that market analysis. 
      
      15      It is in those circumstances that the Verwaltungsgerichtshof decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following two
         questions to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:
      
      ‘(1)      Are Articles 4 and 16 of [the Framework Directive] to be interpreted as meaning that the term “parties affected” [(betroffenen)]
         includes undertakings operating as competitors on the relevant market in respect of which specific obligations are not imposed,
         maintained or amended in market analysis proceedings?
      
      (2)       In the event that the first question is answered in the affirmative, does Article 4 of [the Framework] Directive … preclude
         a national provision which provides that only the undertaking in respect of which specific obligations are imposed, amended
         or withdrawn has the status of a party to market analysis proceedings?’
      
       The questions 
       The first question
      16      By its first question the national court asks, in essence, whether the terms user ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’ (betroffen)
         for the purposes of Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive and the term party ‘affected’ (betroffene) within the meaning
         of Article 16(3) of that directive must be interpreted as covering not only an undertaking (formerly) having significant power
         on the relevant market which is the subject of a decision of a national regulatory authority taken in the context of a market
         analysis procedure referred to in Article 16 of that directive, and which is the addressee of that decision, but also users
         and undertakings in competition with such an undertaking (formerly) having significant power which are not themselves addressees
         of that decision but the rights of which are adversely affected by it. 
      
      17      It should be noted, at the outset, that, as is apparent from the decision making the reference, at issue in the case in the
         main proceedings is the right to be a party in non-adversarial administrative proceedings, in this case market analysis proceedings
         conducted by the TCK pursuant to Paragraph 37 of the TKG, which implements Article 16 of the Framework Directive. However,
         Article 4 of that directive, also raised by the referring court, regulates an issue of adversarial administrative‑law proceedings.
         That article states that Member States are to ensure that effective mechanisms exist at national level under which any user
         or undertaking providing electronic communications networks and/or services which is affected by a decision of a national
         regulatory authority has the right of appeal against that decision to an appeal body which is independent of the parties involved,
         and which may be a court. Where the appeal body is not judicial in character, written reasons for its decision must always
         be given and, furthermore, in such a case, its decision is to be subject to review by a court or tribunal within the meaning
         of Article 234 EC.
      
      18      In addition, it is apparent from the decision making the reference that, under Austrian procedural law, the status of party
         to market analysis proceedings confers the right to participate in those proceedings, as well as the right to consult the
         file in the administrative proceedings, the right to be heard, the right to be informed of the results of the procedure for
         administration of the evidence and to comment on it, and the right to appeal against the decision taken at the end of such
         proceedings. 
      
      19      In the light of the wording of Article 4 of the Framework Directive, as noted in paragraph 17 above, it is necessary to assess
         the scope of the terms user ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’ by a decision of a national regulatory authority for the
         purposes of that article in order to answer the first question referred by the national court.
      
      20      First, it must be pointed out that the Framework Directive does not define that term. 
      
      21      According to the Belgian Government, the fact that, in the English and German versions of that directive, Articles 4(1) and
         16(3) use the same term, namely ‘affected’ and ‘betroffen’ respectively, indicates that those two provisions concern the same
         idea and that, consequently, the Dutch versions ‘getroffen’ (affected) and ‘die gevolgen ondervinden’ (literally, ‘incurring
         consequences’), given in Articles 4(1) and 16(3) respectively, have the same meaning. 
      
      22      The national court also takes the view that, since, in the German version, Articles 4(1) and 16(3) of the Framework Directive
         both use the expression ‘betroffenen’, their scope must be deemed to be the same. 
      
      23      However, the answer to the question referred by the national court cannot be deduced from those findings. 
      
      24      Several language versions of the Framework Directive, namely the Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, English, German, Greek, Italian,
         Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish and versions, use one and the same term in Articles 4(1) and 16(3)
         of that directive, whereas in other language versions of the same provisions two different terms are used, such as user ‘affecté’
         or undertaking ‘affectée’ and parties ‘concernées’ in the French version. 
      
      25      It is settled case‑law that the different language versions of a provision of Community law must be uniformly interpreted,
         and thus, in the case of divergence between those versions, the provision in question must be interpreted by reference to
         the purpose and general scheme of the rules of which it forms part (Case C‑420/98 W.N. [2000] ECR I‑2847, paragraph 21, and Case C‑56/06 Euro Tex [2007] ECR I‑4859, paragraph 27).
      
      26      It is also settled case‑law that the need for a uniform application of Community law and the principle of equality require
         that the terms of a provision of Community law which makes no express reference to the law of the Member States for the purpose
         of determining its meaning and scope must normally be given an independent and uniform interpretation throughout the Community,
         having regard to the context of the provision and the objective pursued by the legislation in question (see, inter alia, Case
         327/82 Ekro [1984] ECR 107, paragraph 11; Case C‑287/98 Linster [2000] ECR I‑6917, paragraph 43; and Case C‑195/06 Österreichischer Rundfunk [2007] ECR I‑0000, paragraph 24). 
      
      27      Accordingly, the scope which the Community legislature intended to confer on the terms user ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’
         by a decision of a national regulatory authority for the purposes of Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive must be assessed
         in the light of the purpose of that article within the context of that directive. 
      
      28      It must, however, be noted that, even if one assumes that an undertaking in a situation similar to that of the applicant in
         the main proceedings falls within Article 16(3) of the Framework Directive, it does not automatically follow that that undertaking
         may fall within the scope of Article 4(1) thereof. As pointed out by the Advocate General in point 19 of his Opinion, Article
         4(1) of the Framework Directive pursues objectives which are very distinct from those pursued by Article 16(3) thereof. 
      
      29      The consequence of the applicability of Article 4(1) to an undertaking is that that undertaking is granted a right to appeal
         against a decision taken by a national regulatory authority by which it is affected, whereas Article 16(3) grants it the right,
         in the case of a decision to withdraw obligations placed on the undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant
         market, to be given an appropriate period of notice of that withdrawal. 
      
      30      As stated by the Advocate General in point 22 of his Opinion, Article 4 of the Framework Directive follows from the principle
         of effective judicial protection, which is a general principle of Community law stemming from the constitutional traditions
         common to the Member States and which has been enshrined in Articles 6 and 13 of the European Convention for the Protection
         of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 (Case C‑432/05 Unibet [2007] ECR I‑2271, paragraph 37 and the case‑law cited), pursuant to which it is for the courts of the Member States to ensure
         judicial protection of an individual’s rights under Community law (Unibet, paragraph 38 and the case‑law cited).
      
      31      In the case covered by Article 4 of the Framework Directive, the Member States are required to provide for a right of appeal
         before an appellate body in order to protect the rights which users and undertakings derive from the Community legal order.
         
      
      32      It follows that the requirement to provide effective judicial protection, which is at the origin of Article 4 of the Framework
         Directive, must apply to both users and undertakings which may derive rights from the Community legal order, in particular
         from telecommunications directives, and whose rights are affected by a decision taken by a national regulatory authority.
         
      
      33      It is thus necessary to determine whether the users and undertakings operating in competition with an undertaking (formerly)
         having significant power on the relevant market may derive rights from the Community legal order, in particular from telecommunications
         directives, and whether their rights may be affected by a decision taken by a national regulatory authority which is not addressed
         to them. If that is the case, they should be entitled to a right of appeal in order to make that decision amenable to judicial
         review. 
      
      34      As pointed out by the Advocate General in point 29 of his Opinion, and as submitted by the applicant in the main proceedings
         and the Commission, certain specific obligations imposed on the undertaking with significant power on the relevant market
         in accordance with Article 16(3) and (4) of the Framework Directive and the provisions of the Access Directive which are cited
         therein are protective measures adopted in the interest of users and undertakings in competition with that undertaking with
         significant market power and are therefore capable of conferring rights on them. Those protective measures include, for example,
         those which may be adopted by national regulatory authorities under Article 8 of the Access Directive and the obligations
         of non‑discrimination between competitors and the obligations to give competitors access to specific network facilities and
         the use of such facilities, laid down respectively in Articles 10 and 12 of the latter directive. 
      
      35      As regards, inter alia, those obligations to provide access to network facilities and the use of those facilities, Article
         12(1) of the Access Directive provides that ‘a national regulatory authority may, in accordance with the provisions of Article
         8, impose obligations on operators to meet reasonable requests for access to, and use of, specific network elements and associated
         facilities, inter alia in situations where the national regulatory authority considers that denial of access or unreasonable
         terms and conditions having a similar effect would hinder the emergence of a sustainable competitive market at the retail
         level, or would not be in the end-user’s interest’. As in the case of the obligation of non‑discrimination laid down in Article
         10 of that directive, those obligations concerning the access of competitors to specific network facilities and the use thereof
         seek to enable interested competitors to benefit from such access. 
      
      36      It follows that users or undertakings competing with an undertaking with significant power on the relevant market must be
         considered to be potential beneficiaries of the rights corresponding to the specific regulatory obligations imposed by a national
         regulatory authority on that undertaking with significant market power pursuant to Article 16 of the Framework Directive and
         the telecommunications directives cited therein. Consequently, those users and undertakings may be regarded as being ‘affected’,
         within the meaning of Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive, by decisions of that authority which amend or withdraw those
         obligations. 
      
      37      Next, it should be pointed out that, under Article 8(2) of the Framework Directive, the national regulatory authorities must
         promote competition in the provision of electronic communications networks, electronic communications services and associated
         facilities and services by, inter alia, ensuring that there is no distortion or restriction of competition in the electronic
         communications sector.
      
      38      As noted by the Advocate General in point 24 of his Opinion, and as submitted by the Danish Government, a strict interpretation
         of Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive to the effect that that provision confers a right of appeal only on persons to
         whom the decisions of the national regulatory authorities are addressed would be difficult to reconcile with the general objectives
         and regulatory principles resulting, for those authorities, from Article 8 of that directive, particularly with the objective
         of promoting competition. 
      
      39      It follows that Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive must be interpreted as granting a right of appeal also to persons
         other than the addressees of a decision taken by a national regulatory authority in the context of a market analysis. Thus,
         users and undertakings competing with an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the market concerned must be regarded
         as being ‘affected’ for the purposes of that provision when their rights are potentially affected by such a decision. 
      
      40      As regards, next, the third sentence of Article 16(3) of the Framework Directive, that provision provides that the parties
         ‘affected’ by the withdrawal of sector‑specific regulatory obligations are to be given an appropriate period of notice. An
         undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the market concerned is an addressee of the decision withdrawing such obligations,
         with the result that it is self‑evident that that undertaking must be notified of the decision. The same applies with regard
         to decisions imposing such obligations on such an undertaking, irrespective of the fact that Article 16(4) of that directive
         does not state so expressly. By contrast, the period of notice laid down in Article 16(3) of that directive acquires its full
         significance in relation to competing undertakings which, for their part, benefit from the obligations the withdrawal of which
         has been decided. It follows that, in providing that a period of notice must be given, the Community legislature sought to
         protect, above all, competitors of the undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the market in their capacity as
         ‘affected’ parties. Furthermore, in that provision the Community legislature would otherwise have used the term ‘undertaking’,
         as in the second sentence of that provision, and not the term parties ‘affected’. 
      
      41      Consequently, the rights of the competitors of an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market are
         covered by Article 16(3) of the Framework Directive and those rights must therefore be regarded as stemming from both that
         provision and Article 4(1) of that directive. 
      
      42      It must also be pointed out that, pursuant to Article 16(6) of the Framework Directive, measures taken under that provision
         are subject to the procedures laid down in, inter alia, Article 6 of that directive and that that latter provision contains,
         among other things, a right for the interested parties to comment on the draft measure within a reasonable period.
      
      43      It follows from all of the foregoing that the terms user ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’ for the purposes of Article
         4(1) of the Framework Directive and the term party ‘affected’ within the meaning of Article 16(3) of that directive must be
         interpreted as being applicable not only to an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market which
         is subject to a decision of a national regulatory authority taken in the context of a market analysis procedure referred to
         in Article 16 of that directive and to which that decision is addressed, but also users and undertakings in competition with
         such an undertaking which are not themselves addressees of that decision but the rights of which are adversely affected by
         it. 
      
      44      Consequently, the submission of the Austrian and Slovene Governments that reading Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive
         in conjunction with recital 12 in the preamble thereto justifies, on its own, the finding that that directive grants the possibility
         of bringing an appeal only to the person who is actually the subject of the decision of the national regulatory authority
         and who is the addressee thereof cannot be upheld. 
      
      45      Admittedly, that recital states that ‘[a]ny party who is the subject of a decision by a national regulatory authority should
         have the right to appeal to a body that is independent of the parties involved. This body may be a court’. Thus, that recital
         merely raises the possibility, for whoever is concerned by a decision of a national regulatory authority, of appealing against
         that decision. However, the mere fact that that recital raises the possibility for the addressee of a decision to appeal against
         it in no way implies that such an appeal is excluded in relation to other undertakings, such as those in competition with
         the addressee. 
      
      46      The Austrian and Slovene Governments also submit that, for the interpretation of the provisions concerned by the present reference
         for a preliminary ruling, account must be taken of the principle of effectiveness, inherent in Community law, which also encompasses
         the aspect relating to the speed at which specific regulatory decisions are implemented. Those governments thus appear to
         be attempting to demonstrate that the possibility of granting ‘interested parties’, within the meaning of Paragraph 8 of the
         1991 General Law on Administrative Procedure, in the version published during 2004, rights reserved to ‘parties’ may extend
         significantly the total duration of the market analysis procedure, whereas the national regulatory authority must react as
         quickly as possible in order to cancel out imbalances liable to arise in markets with rapidly changing conditions. 
      
      47      That argument cannot be upheld. As has been pointed out in paragraph 17 above, Article 4 of the Framework Directive lays down
         the obligation to provide for a judicial or non‑judicial right of appeal, but in no way concerns the non-adversarial administrative
         procedure which precedes the bringing of such an appeal. 
      
      48      In the light of all of the foregoing considerations, the answer to the first question referred must be that the terms user
         ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’ for the purposes of Article 4(1) of the Framework Directive and the term party ‘affected’
         within the meaning of Article 16(3) of that directive must be interpreted as being applicable not only to an undertaking (formerly)
         having significant power on the relevant market which is subject to a decision of a national regulatory authority taken in
         the context of a market analysis procedure referred to in Article 16 of that directive and which is the addressee of that
         decision, but also to users and undertakings in competition with such an undertaking which are not themselves addressees of
         that decision but the rights of which are adversely affected by it.
      
       The second question
      49      By its second question the national court asks, essentially, whether it follows from Article 4 of the Framework Directive
         that, when it has a right to appeal against decisions taken by a national regulatory authority following administrative market
         analysis proceedings, an undertaking such as the applicant in the main proceedings must for that reason also be granted the
         status of a party to the non-adversarial market analysis proceedings. 
      
      50      In that regard, Article 4 of the Framework Directive does not state which are the parties to the non-adversarial administrative
         proceedings referred to in Article 16 of that directive. The wording of that provision also does not provide any indication
         to the effect that an undertaking such as the applicant in the main proceedings must have a right to participate, as a party,
         in those market analysis proceedings. The third sentence of Article 16(3) of the Framework Directive merely affirms that the
         parties affected by the withdrawal of specific regulatory obligations must be given an appropriate period of notice. 
      
      51      Thus, in the absence of Community rules governing a matter, it is for the domestic legal system of each Member State to designate
         the courts and tribunals having jurisdiction and to lay down the detailed procedural rules governing actions before the courts
         for safeguarding rights which individuals derive from the direct effect of Community law (see, inter alia, Case C‑312/93 Peterbroeck [1995] ECR I‑4599, paragraph 12 and the case‑law cited, and Case C‑255/00 Grundig Italiana [2002] ECR I‑8003, paragraph 33 and the case‑law cited).
      
      52      It follows that Community law does not, a priori, require the Member States to permit all users and undertakings in competition with an undertaking (formerly) having significant
         power on the relevant market to participate in a market analysis procedure referred to in Article 16 of the Framework Directive
         as a party for the purposes of the applicable Austrian procedural law with the rights described in paragraph 18 of the present
         judgment. It is thus for the national legislature to specify whether an undertaking such as the applicant in the main proceedings
         has the status of a party to those non-adversarial administrative proceedings and, if so, to decide whether that undertaking
         may be granted procedural rights other than those laid down expressly in Article 16 of the Framework Directive and rights
         inherent in the consultation procedure laid down expressly in Article 6 of that directive. 
      
      53      Consequently, a provision of national law which, in the context of such proceedings, grants party status only to undertakings
         (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market in respect of which specific regulatory obligations are imposed,
         amended or withdrawn is not, in principle, contrary to Article 4 of the Framework Directive. 
      
      54      However, the detailed national procedural rules governing actions for safeguarding rights which individuals derive from the
         direct effect of Community law must not be less favourable than those governing similar domestic actions (principle of equivalence)
         or render virtually impossible or excessively difficult the exercise of the rights conferred by Community law (principle of
         effectiveness) (see, to that effect, inter alia, Peterbroeck, paragraph 12 and the case‑law cited, and Grundig Italiana, paragraph 33 and the case‑law cited).
      
      55      As regards the principle of effectiveness, on which the applicant in the main proceedings relies for the purpose of claiming
         entitlement to participate in the administrative market analysis proceedings in question, it is clear from the Court’s case-law
         that each case which raises the question whether a national procedural provision renders the exercise of rights conferred
         on individuals by the Community legal order impossible or excessively difficult must be analysed by reference to the role
         of that provision in the procedure, its progress and its special features, viewed as a whole, before the various national
         instances. In that context, it is necessary to take into consideration, where relevant, the principles which lie at the basis
         of the national legal system, such as the protection of the rights of the defence, the principle of legal certainty and the
         proper conduct of the proceedings (see, to that effect, Peterbroeck, paragraph 14, and Joined Cases C‑222/05 to C‑225/05 van der Weerd and Others [2007] ECR I‑4233, paragraph 33).
      
      56      It is thus for the national court to ensure that national procedural law guarantees the safeguarding of the rights which users
         and undertakings in competition with an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market derive from
         the Community legal order in a manner which is not less favourable than that in which comparable domestic rights are safeguarded
         and which does not prejudice the effectiveness of the legal protection of those users and undertakings guaranteed in Article
         4 of the Framework Directive.
      
      57      In those circumstances, the answer to the second question referred must be that a provision of national law which, in the
         context of non-adversarial market analysis proceedings, grants party status only to undertakings (formerly) having significant
         power on the relevant market and in respect of which specific regulatory obligations are imposed, amended or withdrawn is
         not, in principle, contrary to Article 4 of the Framework Directive. However, it is for the national court to ensure that
         national procedural law guarantees the safeguarding of the rights which users and undertakings in competition with an undertaking
         (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market derive from the Community legal order in a manner which is not
         less favourable than that in which comparable domestic rights are safeguarded and which does not prejudice the effectiveness
         of the legal protection of those users and undertakings guaranteed in Article 4 of the Framework Directive.
      
       Costs
      58      Since these proceedings are, for the parties to the main proceedings, a step in the action pending before the national court,
         the decision on costs is a matter for that court. Costs incurred in submitting observations to the Court, other than the costs
         of those parties, are not recoverable.
      
      On those grounds, the Court (Second Chamber) hereby rules:
      1.      The terms user ‘affected’ or undertaking ‘affected’ for the purposes of Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/21/EC of the European
            Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and
            services (Framework Directive) and the term party ‘affected’ within the meaning of Article 16(3) of that directive must be
            interpreted as being applicable not only to an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market which
            is subject to a decision of a national regulatory authority taken in the context of a market analysis procedure referred to
            in Article 16 of that directive and which is the addressee of that decision, but also to users and undertakings in competition
            with such an undertaking which are not themselves addressees of that decision but the rights of which are adversely affected
            by it.
      2.      A provision of national law which, in the context of non-adversarial market analysis proceedings, grants party status only
            to undertakings (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market and in respect of which specific regulatory obligations
            are imposed, amended or withdrawn is not, in principle, contrary to Article 4 of Directive 2002/21. However, it is for the
            national court to ensure that national procedural law guarantees the safeguarding of the rights which users and undertakings
            in competition with an undertaking (formerly) having significant power on the relevant market derive from the Community legal
            order in a manner which is not less favourable than that in which comparable domestic rights are safeguarded and which does
            not prejudice the effectiveness of the legal protection of those users and undertakings guaranteed in Article 4 of Directive
            2002/21. 
      [Signatures]
      * Language of the case: German.