The directives would give the European Commission power to stop national regulatory authorities, such as Oftel in the UK, acting in a way that would be detrimental to the single market.
These three directives are part of a package of eight proposals submitted by the Commission which together are intended to provide a new framework for regulating electronic communications networks and services, thereby streamlining the current legal framework of 28 different legislative texts. The Commission's aim is to increase competition, so as to bring consumers lower prices, wider choice and better services. It is also seeking to bring the legal framework into line with technological changes.
The new legal framework will cover all satellite-based and terrestrial communications networks, i.e. both the public telephone network and networks using the internet protocol, as well as cable television, mobile and terrestrial broadcasting networks.
The new directives are a response to the Lisbon European Council's call for a fully integrated and liberalised telecommunications market to be created by the end of 2001 in order to pave the way for the transition to a digital, knowledge-based society.
The directives will be next considered by ministers in April and then return to the Parliament for a second reading. They are unlikely to become law in Member States until 2003.