Published: 2004-07-14
Key Benefits:
27.4.2006 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 113/10 |
RECOMMENDATION OF THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY
No 193/04/COL
of 14 July 2004
on notifications, time limits and consultations provided for in Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services
THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,
Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1),
Having regard to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, and in particular Article 5(2)(b) thereof,
Having regard to the Act referred to at point 5cl of Annex XI to the EEA Agreement and as adapted to the Agreement by Protocol 1 thereto and by the sectoral adaptations contained in Annex XI to that Agreement (Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common regulatory framework for electronic communication networks and services), and in particular Article 19(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) |
Under the new regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, national regulatory authorities have an obligation to contribute to the development of the internal market by, inter alia, cooperating with each other and with the Authority in a transparent manner to ensure the development of consistent regulatory practice and the consistent application of the Directives making up the new regulatory framework. |
(2) |
In order to ensure that decisions at national level do not have an adverse effect on the functioning of the EEA Agreement or the objectives pursued by the new regulatory framework, national regulatory authorities must notify to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (hereinafter the Authority) and other national regulatory authorities within the European Economic Area (EEA) those draft measures identified in Article 7(3) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive). |
(3) |
As an additional requirement, national regulatory authorities must obtain the Authority's authorisation for obligations covered by the second subparagraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2002/19/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Access Directive), referred to at point 5cj of Annex XI to the EEA Agreement and as adapted to the Agreement by Protocol 1 thereto and by the sectoral adaptations contained in Annex XI to that Agreement, which constitutes a separate process. |
(4) |
The Authority will give national regulatory authorities, if they so request, an opportunity to discuss any draft measure, before formal notification thereof under Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) and Article 8(3) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive). If, pursuant to Article 7(4) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), the Authority has indicated to the national regulatory authority that it considers that the draft measure would create a barrier to the functioning of the EEA Agreement or if it has serious doubts as to its compatibility with the EEA law, the national regulatory authority concerned will be given an early opportunity to express its views in relation to the issues raised by the Authority. |
(5) |
Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) lays down certain binding time limits for the consideration of notifications under Article 7. |
(6) |
In order to facilitate and ensure the effectiveness of the cooperation and consultation mechanism set out in Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) and in the interests of legal certainty, clear rules are needed for the notification process and the examination by the Authority of a notification and for calculating the legal time limits referred to above. |
(7) |
It would likewise be beneficial to clarify procedural arrangements in the context of the second subparagraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive). |
(8) |
In order to simplify and expedite the examination of a notified draft measure, it is desirable for national regulatory authorities to use a standard format for notifications (summary notification form). |
(9) |
By common accord between the EFTA States, the English language is to be used as the working language for all communications between the EFTA States and the Authority. This is without prejudice to the rights of private parties and undertakings to submit documents in any of the EEA languages, as provided for by the EEA Agreement. |
(10) |
In order to comply with the objectives laid down in Article 8 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), and in particular with the need to ensure the development of consistent regulatory practices and the consistent application of that Directive, it is essential that the notification mechanism laid down in Article 7 thereof is fully respected and as effective as possible. |
(11) |
In order to allow for a consistent application of the new regulatory regime across the whole of the EEA and to reap the full benefits of the cooperation between the national regulatory authorities, it is vital that the flow of information between both the EFTA and the EC pillar of the EEA is ensured. A specific adaptation to Article 7(3) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) to this effect contained in EEA Joint Committee Decision No 11/2004 provides that ‘The exchange of information between the national regulatory authorities of the EFTA States on the one hand and the national regulatory authorities of the EC Member States on the other hand shall pass through the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the Commission.’ |
(12) |
The EFTA Communications Committee has delivered its favourable opinion in accordance with Article 22(2) of Directive 2002/21/EC (the Framework Directive), |
HEREBY RECOMMENDS THAT:
1. |
Terms defined in Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) and the specific directives have the same meaning when used in this Recommendation. In addition:
|
2. |
Notifications should be effected, where possible, by electronic means. The Authority will operate an electronic system to receive notifications. In this case, national regulatory authorities shall use this system exclusively. Documents sent by electronic means will be presumed to have been received by the addressee on the day on which they were sent or submitted to the electronic system. Subject to point 6 below, notifications and supporting documents will be registered in the order in which they have been received. |
3. |
Notifications will become effective on the date on which the Authority registers them (‘date of registration’). The date of registration will be the date on which a complete notification is received by the Authority. Notice will be given on the Authority's website and by electronic means to all national regulatory authorities of the date of registration of the notification, the subject matter of the notification and of any supporting documentation received. |
4. |
Draft national measures, together with the reasoning on which the measure is based, as well as the summary notification form, should be in the English language. |
5. |
Draft measures notified by a national regulatory authority should be accompanied by the documentation necessary for the Authority to carry out its tasks. Draft measures should be sufficiently reasoned. |
6. |
Notifications should include each of the following where applicable:
|
7. |
Where a draft measure defines, for the purposes of the market analysis, a relevant market which differs from those in the Recommendation on relevant markets, national regulatory authorities should provide sufficient reasoning as to the criteria relied upon for such a market definition. |
8. |
Notifications made in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive) should also contain adequate reasoning as to why obligations other than those listed in Articles 9 to 13 thereof should be imposed on operators with significant market power. |
9. |
Notifications falling within the scope of Article 8(5) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive) should also contain adequate reasoning as to why the intended measures are required in order to comply with international commitments. |
10. |
Notifications that include the applicable information within the meaning of point 6 will be presumed complete. Where the information, including documents, contained in the notification is incomplete in a material respect, the Authority will within five working days of receipt inform the national regulatory authority concerned and specify the extent to which it considers the notification to be incomplete. The notification will not be registered for so long as the national regulatory authority concerned has not provided the necessary information. In such cases for the purposes of Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) the notification will become effective on the date on which the Authority receives the complete information. |
11. |
Without prejudice to point 6 above, following registration of a notification, the Authority, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), may seek further information or clarification from the national regulatory authority concerned. National regulatory authorities should endeavour to provide the information requested within three working days, where this is readily available. |
12. |
Where the Authority makes comments in accordance with Article 7(3) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), it will notify the national regulatory authority concerned by electronic means and publish such comments on its website. |
13. |
Where a national regulatory authority makes comments in accordance with Article 7(3) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), it shall communicate those comments by electronic means to the Authority and the other national regulatory authorities. |
14. |
Where the Authority in applying Article 7(4) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) considers that a draft measure would create a barrier to the functioning of the EEA Agreement or it has serious doubts as to its compatibility with EEA law, and in particular the objectives referred to in Article 8 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive); or subsequently
it will notify the national regulatory authority concerned by electronic means and post a notice on its website. |
15. |
With regard to notifications made pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive), the Authority, acting in accordance with Article 14(2) thereof will normally take a decision authorizing or preventing the national authority from adopting the proposed draft measure within a period not exceeding three months. The Authority may decide to extend this period for a further two months in view of the difficulties raised. |
16. |
A national regulatory authority may at any time decide to withdraw the notified draft measure, in which case the notified measure will be removed from the register. The Authority will publish an appropriate notice to that effect on its website. |
17. |
Where a national regulatory authority that has received comments from the Authority or another national regulatory authority made in accordance with Article 7(3) of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), adopts the draft measure, on the Authority's request it shall provide information to the Authority and other national regulatory authorities of the manner in which it took the utmost account of the comments made. |
18. |
When requested by a national regulatory authority, the Authority will informally discuss a draft measure prior to notification. |
19. |
Any period of time referred to in Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) or in this Recommendation will be calculated as follows:
Where the time period would end on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it shall be extended until the end of the first following working day. The Authority publishes a list of public holidays designated by the EFTA States and by the Authority each year in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the EU. The EFTA States shall transmit a list of public holidays to the Authority upon request. |
20. |
The Authority, together with the national regulatory authorities, will evaluate the necessity of reviewing these rules, in principle no earlier than 1 September 2005. |
21. |
This Recommendation is addressed to the EFTA States. |
Done at Brussels, 14 July 2004.
For the EFTA Surveillance Authority
Hannes HAFSTEIN
President
(1) Hereinafter referred to as the EEA Agreement.
(2) Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (Universal Service Directive), as referred to at point 5cm of Annex XI to the EEA Agreement and as adapted by Protocol 1 thereto and by the sectoral adaptations contained in Annex XI to that Agreement.
ANNEX
FORM RELATING TO NOTIFICATIONS OF DRAFT MEASURES PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 7 OF DIRECTIVE 2002/21/EC (FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE)
(‘Summary Notification Form’)
Introduction
This form specifies the summary information to be provided by national regulatory authorities to the Authority when notifying draft measures in accordance with Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive).
The Authority intends to discuss with national regulatory authorities issues related to the implementation of Article 7, especially during pre-notification meetings. Accordingly, national regulatory authorities are encouraged to consult the Authority on any aspect of this form and in particular on which kind of information they are requested to supply or conversely the possibility to dispense with the obligation to provide certain information in relation to the market analysis carried out by national regulatory authorities pursuant to Articles 15 and 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive).
Correct and complete information
All information submitted by national regulatory authorities should be correct and complete and reproduced in a summarised manner in the form prescribed below. The form does not intend to replace the notified draft measure but should enable the Authority and the national regulatory authorities of other EEA States to verify that the notified draft measure does indeed contain, by reference to the information contained in the form, all information which is necessary in order for the Authority to carry out its tasks under Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) within the time period prescribed therein.
The information required by this form should be set out in the sections and paragraph numbers of the form with cross-references to the body of the draft measure where this information is to be found.
SUMMARY NOTIFICATION FORM
SECTION 1
Market definition
Please state where applicable:
1.1. |
the affected relevant product/service market. Is this market mentioned in the Recommendation on relevant markets? |
1.2. |
the affected relevant geographic market; |
1.3. |
a brief summary of the opinion of the national competition authority where provided; |
1.4. |
a brief overview of the results of the public consultation to date on the proposed market definition (for example, how many comments were received, which respondents agreed with the proposed market definition, which respondents disagreed with it); |
1.5. |
where the defined relevant market is different from those listed in the Recommendation on relevant markets, a summary of the main reasons which justified the proposed market definition by reference to Section 2 of the Authority's Guidelines on the definition of the relevant market and the assessment of significant market power (1), and the three main criteria mentioned in recitals 12 to 19 of the Recommendation on relevant markets. |
SECTION 2
Designation of undertakings with significant market power
Please state where applicable:
2.1. |
the name(s) of the undertaking(s) designated as having individually or jointly significant market power. Where applicable, the name(s) of the undertaking(s) which is (are) considered to no longer have significant market power; |
2.2. |
the criteria relied upon for deciding to designate or not an undertaking as having individually or jointly with others significant market power; |
2.3. |
the name of the main undertakings (competitors) present/active in the relevant market; |
2.4. |
the market shares of the undertakings mentioned above and the basis of their calculation (e.g., turnover, number of subscribers). |
Please provide a brief summary of:
2.5. |
the opinion of the national competition authority, where provided; |
2.6. |
the results of the public consultation to date on the proposed designation(s) as undertaking(s) having significant market power (e.g., total number of comments received, numbers agreeing/disagreeing). |
SECTION 3
Regulatory obligations
Please state where applicable:
3.1. |
the legal basis for the obligations to be imposed, maintained, amended or withdrawn (Articles 9 to 13 of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive)); |
3.2. |
the reasons for which the imposition, maintenance or amendment of obligations on undertakings is considered proportional and justified in the light of the objectives laid down in Article 8 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive). Alternatively, indicate the paragraphs, sections or pages of the draft measure where such information is to be found; |
3.3. |
if the remedies proposed are other than those set out in Articles 9 to 13 of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive), please indicate which are the ‘exceptional circumstances’ within the meaning of Article 8(3) thereof which justify the imposition of such remedies. Alternatively, indicate the paragraphs, sections or pages of the draft measure where such information is to be found. |
SECTION 4
Compliance with international obligations
In relation to the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive), please state where applicable:
4.1. |
whether the proposed draft measure intends to impose, amend or withdraw obligations on market players as provided for in Article 8(5) of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive); |
4.2. |
the name(s) of the undertaking(s) concerned; |
4.3. |
which are the international commitments entered into by the EFTA State that need to be respected. |
(1) Authority guidelines on market analysis and the assessment of significant market power under the Community regulatory framework for electronic communications and services.