Open network provision (ONP), voice telephony

In its Common Position, the Council adopted 20 of the 24 amendments proposed by the European Parliament and accepted by the Commission. The main amendments covered the following points: - questions relating to interconnection with a view to Community-wide interoperability: the text specified the obligations on telecommunications organisations to satisfy their requests for interconnection. The regulatory authorities should ensure that telecommunications organisations adhere to the principle of non-discrimination when entering into interconnection agreements with others; - cost accounting principles: the cost accounting principle was aligned with the principle set out in the Directive on the application of open network provision to leased lines. Other cost accounting schemes could be applied only if they allowed for the application of the tariff principles set out in the Directive, if they had been approved by the national regulatory authorities and notified in advance to the Commission; - itemised billing: calls to emergency call numbers, which are free of charge for the caller, should not included in itemised bills; - numbering: the national regulatory authorities should encourage the use of any European numbering plans for the supply of pan-European supplementary services such as green or freephone numbers, kiosk billing, automatic reverse charging facility, etc.; - procedure for Community-wide convergence of targets and common services implemented by Member States: the procedure under which the Commission may set harmonised targets and target dates for the application of the Directive was limited to the implementation by the Member States of provisions on targets relating to service provision and quality, provision of additional advanced services and itemised billing; - procedures for conciliation and settlement of disputes: only the Community conciliation procedure and the national settlement of disputes were concerned. A dispute settlement procedure at Community level was not adopted; - comitology: the Common Position laid down the type IIIa regulatory committee procedure; - review: the Commission should submit to the European Parliament and the Council a first report on the operation of the Directive at the latest four years after its adoption. �