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The European Parliament Approved the Telecoms Package
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 The European Parliament has approved the last part of the Telecoms reform package, aimed at bringing more competition, improving consumer choice, boosting broadband internet coverage and protecting users’ privacy rights with regards to telecoms operators. The EU telecoms reform, which paves the way for the establishment of the new pan-European telecoms authority (BEREC), will enter into force on 18 December 2009. EU member States will have until June 2011 to transpose the telecoms reform package into national legislation.

On Tuesday the European Parliament approved the Telecoms package by 510 votes to 40. The decision to approve the package – which will strengthen the users rights and boost competition – means that more modern regulations in the telecom area will soon be implemented within the European countries.

The proposal for more modern regulations in the telecom area got stuck in the negotiations between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament earlier this year. It was the much-discussed amendment 138 that created disagreement but at a conciliation meeting on November 4 the parties finally reached an agreement on a revised version of the amendment. Today the third, and last, part of the package was approved by the parliament.

Parliament and Council had already agreed on the other two parts of the telecoms package - telecoms regulators and citizens' rights.

EP President, Jerzy Buzek, said that this legislative package is a prime example of how the work being done by European legislators has an impact on the daily life of citizens.

“I am delighted that we have contributed to strengthening the rights of users of electronic communications and the internet." said Buzek, who will sign the telecoms package on Wednesday together with Swedish minister for communications Åsa Torstensson.