Telecommunications: implementation of the regulatory package. 8th report 2002

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Nick CLEGG (ELDR, United Kingdom) on the Commission's report on the telecommunications package. (Please see the document of 04/11/03.) Parliament also called on NRAs to act when short-term price reductions by incumbents inhibit the development of competitive market conditions in the long term. With regard to the telecoms sector, Parliament felt that facilities-based competition in which competition service providers invest in their own infrastructure generally yields better results for consumers and lays the foundations for sustainable competition. The emphasis on access-based competition (e.g. resale, local loop unbundling, bit-stream access) should not be regarded as an end in itself but as a route to fuller facilities-based competition. Moving on, Parliament stated that National Regulatory Authorities should be fully independent and properly resourced, that they have the necessary powers to carry out their functions. They should be capable of taking a proactive role so as to stimulate sector competition. The Commission should take a forward-looking and highly active role in the way in which the ERG interprets its regulatory tasks. Finally, Parliament emphasized the importance of speedy determination of appeals against NRAs' decisions. All Member States must have effective dispute resolution procedures in place.�