COMMUNITY ACQUIS and
Research and technological
development activities at Community level, as provided for in Article 164 of
the EC Treaty (former Article 130G) and the Framework Programme (Article 166,
former Article 130I), are aimed at improving the competitiveness of European
industry and the quality of life, promoting sustainable development and
contributing to the development of other Community policies.
The objective of Community
telecommunications policy is to remove obstacles to the smooth functioning of
the single market in telecommunications equipment, services and networks, to
open foreign markets to Community undertakings and to give European Union
citizens and businesses access to modern services.
Research
and technological development
The November 1998 report
concluded that, while there had been progress in the telecommunications sector,
little progress had been made in the two other sectors (research and
information society) since the July 1997 opinion.
The 1999 and 2000 reports noted
appreciable progress in this field. The report also mentions the further
progress made in aligning with the acquis, both in the field of
telecommunications and in the field of postal services.
With regard to research and
technological development (RTD),
Telecommunications
Penetration in mobile services has
reached 30%.
Postal
services
Information
society
The information society is being
created in the framework of the national communications and information
development programme.
Further Information