General authorizations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services (common framework)

The Council adopted its common position concerning the Directive on a common framework for general authorizations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services. With regard to Parliament's amendments, in numerous instances the Council endorsed the Commission position as put forward in its modified proposal. The Council also introduced changes of substance to the Commission proposal. The main changes are as follows: - scope: a new provision was added in order to clarify the relationship with other national regulations or measures; - general authorizations: no information was provided in particular as regards definition; - individual licences: the common position lists the only reasons justifying the issue of individual licences. Nevertheless, it provides that the provision of voice telephony services, the establishment and provision of public telecommunications networks as well as other networks involving the use of radio frequencies could be subject to individual licences given that provision was made for a review of these arrangements. A number of individual licences could also be limited during the time needed to bring into service sufficient numbers in accordance with Community law. A series of clarifications was also added as regards the relationship with general authorizations, amendment of conditions, the procedures applicable - notably as regards time limits and in the event of suspension or withdrawal - and the conditions which may be attached to them; - harmonization: the Council thought Members States' national authorities were perfectly capable of deciding on the granting of individual licences and the definition of the level of charges, and it did not therefore provide for the harmonization of these aspects; - one-stop-shopping procedure: the body considered for the implementation of this procedure, namely CEPT/ECTRA-ERC, is expressly mentioned and the procedure is extended to the notification procedures covered by general authorizations; - a 'Licencing Committee' composed of the representatives of the Member States will be responsible for implementing the Directive. Among the amendments not accepted by the common position were those concerning references to the possibility of establishing a regulatory authority, to the numbering plans and to the portability of numbers. �