TELECOMMUNICATIONS : GUIDELINES FOR TRANS-EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS.

The Trans-European Telecommunication Networks (TEN-Tele) could receive Community funding if they are of common interest, contribute to economic growth and respect some basic criteria. This is the aim of the regulation, which was the subject of a compromise between the European Parliament and Council, on 5 November(1). On 15 November, the Lithuanian Presidency announced that it had notified Parliament that the member states' permanent representatives had endorsed the compromise. In the coming months, the text still needs to be officially endorsed by Parliament and the Council, which should make its decision after the vote in Parliament.

The regulation, which also establishes funding priorities, covers projects in the area of digital service infrastructures and broadband networks. These projects could receive assistance from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the future funding instrument for the trans-European networks (TEN) in the fields of transport, energy and telecommunications. The ceiling set by the telecommunications sector during the February European Council is 1 billion; the final figure is to be determined in the light of the final multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020.

To be eligible for funding, actions in the field of digital service infrastructures must, among others, be ready for deployment, contribute to EU single market policies and have a long-term sustainable strategy.

Criteria for actions in the area of broadband networks include making a significant contribution to the realisation of the targets of the Europe 2020' flagship initiative, Digital Agenda for Europe. According to those targets, all Europeans should have access to internet speeds above 30 Mbps and at least 50% of European households should subscribe to internet connections above 100 Mbps.

PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING

The first priority for funding - which will have...