TELECOMMUNICATIONS : BUSINESSEUROPE HOSTILE TO FURTHER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.

• Position: Brief article

On the occasion of the Council of telecoms ministers, on 27 November, Philippe de Buck, director of BusinessEurope, the European employers' lobbying group, wrote to the incumbent President of the Council, Luc Chatel, urging him to not impose further obligations on the sector regarding consumer protection, especially in these times of global economic and financial crisis.

The sector, which generates annual revenue of some 300 billion, does not want to be made to apply, after the capping of the cost of calls, yet another capping on the prices of SMS and internet data on mobile telephones during trips within the EU (roaming). This would be contrary to "incentives for the urgent investment needed in new networks and products," argues de Buck.

Moreover, he refuses to incur any new obligations in the context of the revision of the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications (telecoms package), particularly regarding universal service for...