The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those held by the European Parliament as an institution.
Commission Opinion COM(97) 2002 final
Commission Report COM(98) 701 final
In its Opinion of July 1997 the European Commission saw no major problems with regard to research and technological development.
The November 1998 Report noted that certain progress had been made in this area, more particularly as regards the expansion of research and technology. Progress had also been made on the information society. Nevertheless further efforts were called for in aligning the existing legislation with the Community acquis in the telecommunications sector.
In connection with the information society Poland has been involved in the high-level joint committee on the information society. The Polish Government is preparing to define the political and institutional aspects needed in devising a strategy for the information society. The main obstacle resides in the state of the telecommunications network. The progress made on telecommunications has, in fact, been very limited. No new law has taken effect. The sole public operator, TPSA still occupies a dominant position. It also controls Cenertel, a new operator recently emerging on the market. A timetable has been laid down for the first stage of TPSA's privatisation and a tendering procedure has been prepared for the operation of certain local telecom services and the granting of licences for the supply of long-distance services.
A great deal of work is needed on the adoption of a new law on telecommunications and on its implementation. An independent national inspectorate should also be set up in order to implement the provisions concerning Open Network Provision (ONP). The difficulties arising from the transfer of frequencies currently used for military purposes warrant an adequate solution. It is also necessary to devote particular attention to implementing the acquis with regard to the supply of a universal telecommunications service and to deregulating the telecommunications market. Further action is needed in order to transpose the acquis to the postal services. Poland has asked for a transitional period owing to the problems that are hampering telecommunications.
Commission Opinion COM(97) 2009 final
Commission Report COM(98) 708 final
In its July 1997 Opinion, the European Commission did not foresee any major problems in the field of research and technological development.
The November 1998 Report notes that certain progress has been made in this field.
Little progress has been achieved in aligning Czech legislation to the acquis in the telecommunications field. In October 1997, the operating licences of SPT Telecom were amended so as to impose the obligations concerning the interconnection of networks provided for in the Community Directive. Other measures were taken in November 1997, including the issue of a set of general licences and the adoption of a unified rule concerning the public telephone network's numbering plan and another concerning the National Frequency Table. Nonetheless, further efforts are needed, in particular concerning the establishment of an independent regulator. No progress has been made on postal services.
In the field of the information society, the Czech Government in July 1998 adopted guidelines for a national policy in line with EU policy in this area. The Czech Republic participates in the joint High-Level Committee on the information society.
Commission Opinion COM(97) 2003 final
Commission Report COM(98) 702 final
In its Opinion of July 1997, the European Commission expressed the view that considerable efforts would be required to make the Romanian research and technological development system efficient and competitive at international level. Nevertheless, no major problems were to be expected in this field in connection with accession. With regard to telecommunications and information society, however, the Commission considered that Romania would face problems as little progress was being made with development and liberalisation in those sectors.
The November 1998 Report confirms that some progress has been made with regard to the approximation of legislation in the telecommunications sector. However, the general economic situation is an obstacle to growth in the fields of the information society and research and development.
With regard to telecommunications, a law of 1996 laid down the general framework for market regulation. Secondary legislation has been adopted on the authorisation of data transmission on CATV networks, paging, trunking, CATV networks and the interconnection of telecommunications networks. Legislation in force since 1998 provides for the liberalisation of alternative infrastructures and authorises data transmission on the cable TV networks and the provision of voice telephony services for closed user groups at the seaport of Constanta. Full liberalisation of the markets for voice telephony and infrastructure is scheduled for 1 January 2003. Steps have also been taken to set up an independent regulatory agency.
In 1998, the autonomous administrations Romtelecom, Radio-comunicatii and Posta Romana were restructured as commercial enterprises. The separation of the management functions of national operators from the Ministry's regulatory functions provides the basis for the privatisation of the telephone operator, Romtelecom. Little progress has been made with regard to the approximation of legislation, and only one decree on interconnection has been adopted.
With regard to postal services, a 1996 framework law defines and classifies postal services and introduces a licensing regime for postal operators. Basic service will remain a monopoly until 2001. Further measures adopted in 1997 specify the authorisation procedures for postal services open to competition. Progress has been achieved in the field of the information society. A National Strategy for computerisation and the rapid implementation of the information society was adopted in February 1998. Its objective is to improve the information infrastructure, develop the information technology industry and develop information technologies for public administration. A State Secretariat for the Information Society has been created for policy development and monitoring and an independent monitoring body supervises the data processing market and personal data processing.
Liberalisation in the field of data transmission has progressed. Romania has a wide private cable television network with 3 million connected users; television companies are also allowed to transmit data and connect to the Internet. Romania is participating in the High Level committee on the information society.
Commission Opinion COM(97) 2004 final
Commission Report COM(98) 703 final
In its Opinion of July 1997 the European Commission did not foresee any major problems in the field of research and technological development. In the telecommunications sector, however, the Commission expressed the view that Slovakia would have problems conforming to the acquis in the medium term due to the inability of the administration to implement the new legislation. With regard to the information society, the Commission considered that the range and extent of information technology products was an encouraging indication of Slovakia's potential in the field of information society activities.
The November 1998 Report notes the Slovak Government's interest in pursuing the policies to be undertaken in the fields of the information society and research and technological development. Progress has been made in aligning telecommunications legislation as far as liberalisation aspects are concerned. Further efforts are needed to ensure real competition in the sector, however.
Progress has been made in the field of telecommunications. Since January 1998, all telecommunications services with the exception of voice telephony have been liberalised, as has the use of alternative infrastructure for the provision of non-reserved services. Slovak Telecom's exclusive right to provide public telecommunications infrastructure and supply public voice services expires on 31 December 2002. However, no decision has been taken to privatise Slovak Telecom.
Slovakia has taken steps to transpose the acquis concerning liberalisation, but no measures have as yet been taken to safeguard competition. The liberalisation of telecommunications services requires the enforcement of a full set of measures to safeguard competition, such as regulatory independence, tariff rebalancing and the prevention of market distortion by dominant suppliers.
Two operators have been providing competitive mobile telephony services since January 1997. However, action is still required with regard to interconnection.
The organisation and scope of the National Regulatory Authority is one of the main outstanding issues which is delaying the adoption of new telecommunications legislation.
With regard to the information society, the Government examined the Strategy for the Implementation of the Information Society Policy and the Report on the Implementation of Global Information Networks in April 1998. The general accessibility of computer and Internet information services continues to increase. By 31 December 1997 the number of Internet host servers (14520) was practically double the figure for the previous year.
Slovakia is participating in the joint high-level committee on information society.
Commission Opinion COM(97) 2010 final
Commission Report COM(98) 709 final
In its Opinion of July 1997, the European Commission expressed the view that there were no major problems in the field of research and technological development or with regard to the information society, the objectives of which Slovenia could possibly realise earlier than most CEECs. With regard to telecommunications, the July Opinion stated that Slovenia could achieve a level comparable to that of certain Member States in the medium term, provided that competition was rapidly liberalised in all sectors.
In the telecommunications sector, little progress has been made with the liberalisation and harmonisation of legislation in relation to the comparative economic development of Slovenia. The measures to implement the Telecommunications Act such as the mutual recognition of conformity of type approval certificates and a comprehensive licensing regime have not yet been adopted. It is still necessary to liberalise public voice telephony and alternative networks for the provision of telecommunications services, and to establish a separate regulatory authority. Other measures must also be taken to rebalance tariffs.
Major achievements to date have been the liberalisation of terminal equipment and telecommunications services, but the lack of progress on the mutual recognition of conformity and type approval means that equipment can only be purchased in Slovenia. The market for mobile telephony services was liberalised in 1998. The Simobil consortium, which is 25% financed by foreign capital, has been granted a second GSM licence. The infrastructure is constantly improving. There are still insufficient resources in the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications to tackle the major task of legislative harmonisation effectively, however. The development of infrastructure and services seems to be the current priority for the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications. Full implementation of telecommunications legislation is still a priority objective for which institutional capacity will have to be reinforced.
Slovenia is participating in the Joint High Level Committee on Information Society. However, no new developments have been noted. Slovenia is still in a good position to realise all its potential in this field.
Commission Report COM(98) 711 final
The telecommunications sector has made considerable strides in the last few years, particularly in terms of mobile telephony. Progress with fixed telephony and advanced communication networks appears slower, partly reflecting legal uncertainty about the ending of Türk Telekom's monopoly. This was originally scheduled to take place on 31 December 2005 but has been brought forward to 2001. Given that the monopoly is still in place, there has been no significant progress in the alignment of Turkey's law on that of the Community. Turkey ought to pursue a policy of total liberalisation of the telecommunications sector by establishing an appropriate legislative framework and the requisite organisational framework (introduction of a regulatory authority and rules governing connections and licensing, etc). The European strategy contains proposals for appropriate co-operation measures. It has also been agreed that Turkey will put forward a policy paper outlining its plans for the adoption of the acquis. With regard to the information society, the slowness of the liberalisation process has also prevented the creation of the necessary infrastructures. The level of computerisation is still well below that in the European Union. The European strategy proposes contacts in order to develop a Turkish strategy for the introduction of the information society and to extend the trans-European networks to Turkey.