TELECOMMUNICATIONS : FURTHER INFRINGEMENT PROCEEDINGS IN THE TELECOMS SECTOR.

The European Commission announced a further round of infringement proceedings on 13 December against member states failing to correctly apply the telecoms rules in force since July and due to be reviewed in 2007. The Commission accuses Poland of undermining the independence of the national regulatory authority. Under the terms of the Polish law of 24 August 2006 on state employees, the prime minister can dismiss the president of the regulatory authority. Moreover, indications regarding the duration of his mandate and grounds on which the incumbent can be relieved of his duties or dismissed have been withdrawn from the Polish legislation. Slovakia has, meanwhile, received a reasoned opinion, the final stage in infringement proceedings prior to action before the EU Court of Justice, for failing to ensure a structural separation' between the office of national regulator and control activities regarding...