COMMUNITY ACQUIS and Estonia

The November 1998 report confirmed that the information society and research and technological development were priorities in Estonia, and that progress had been made in those fields.

Progress had been achieved in the information society and research and technological development sectors, thanks to full association with the Fifth Framework Programme.

The October 2002 report notes that Estonia has in particular made progress as regards postal services, as considerable progress has already been made in the telecommunications and information society sectors. Further progress has also been achieved with regard to research and technological development.

In 2001, Estonia continued its policy of aligning with the Community acquis, achieving major progress both in terms of liberalisation of the telecommunications market and implementation of its regulatory framework.

The October 2002 report notes that Estonia has in particular made progress as regards postal services, as considerable progress has already been made in the telecommunications and information society sectors. Further progress has also been achieved with regard to research and technological development.

The objective of Community telecommunications policy is to remove barriers to the efficient operation of the Internal Market in equipment, services and telecommunications networks, to open foreign markets to Community enterprises and to make modern services available to citizens and enterprises in the European Union. These objectives must be achieved by harmonising standards and conditions for the provision of services, liberalising the terminal equipment, services and networks markets and adopting the necessary regulatory measures.

In the field of research and technological development, Estonia's association with the " Fifth Framework Programme " began in June 1999.

The 2002 report notes that Estonia has already achieved liberalisation of the telecommunications market and implementation of its regulatory framework.

This law regulates the provision of telecommunication services through cable networks and the lifting of restrictions on the provision of cable services.

Postal services have already been deregulated.

The new Telecommunications Act was adopted in February 2000. This introduced the regulatory framework necessary to implement the Community acquis.

Further Information

http://www.europa.eu.int

http://www.euractiv