Telecommunications: open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony, and universal service

In adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mrs Imelda READ (PSE, Uk), Parliament amended the Council's common position. Parliament failed to secure the qualified majority requested to retable all the amendments from first reading that had not been taken over by the Council in its common position. Through its amendments, Parliament: - asked that the Member States specify an affordable price, on the basis of guidelines drawn up at European level in the light of specific national conditions, including town and country planning aspects; - highlighted the need for free access to directory enquiry services for handicapped people, especially the blind or partially-sighted and deaf or speech-impaired people; - underlined the need for users to have complete freedom when choosing suppliers of the various services they may wish to use; - noted that the Member States could impose additional universal service requirements. Such additional requirements should not, under any circumstances, affect the costing of universal service provision as laid down at EU level and could not be financed through a mandatory contribution from market players; - hoped that the Commission would examine the quality of the services offered through the Community in a half-yearly report for Parliament and the Council. �