COM(2003)270 - Green paper on services of general interest

official title

 

Legal instrument	Green paper
Decision making procedure	Own-initiative procedure (INI)
reference by COM-number213	COM(2003)270
Additional COM-numbers	COM(2003)270
procedure number215	2003/2152(INI)
CELEX number216	52003DC0270

This page is also available in a full version containing the latest state of affairs, the summary of the European Parliament Legislative Observatory, the legal context, other dossiers related to the dossier at hand, the stakeholders involved (e.g. European Commission directorates-general, European Parliament committees, Council configurations and even individual EU Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament) and finally documents of the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.

• 1. 

  The Internal Market - Ten Years without Frontiers, SEC(2002) 1417, 7.1.2003
  
   
• 2. 

  COM(2001) 598 final, 17.10.2001
  
   
• 3. 

  Article 86 (2) provides:
   
• 4. 

  The Treaty provides in its Article 16 :
   
• 5. 

  Article 36 of the Charter provides:
   
• 6. 

  See also the Presidency conclusions of the Barcelona European Council, 15 and 16 March 2002, para. 42 and of the Brussels European Council, 20 and 21 March 2003, para. 26
  
   
• 7. 

  There is often confusion between the term
   
• 8. 

  The Commission intends to publish a Green Paper on public procurement and Public-Private-Partnerships in the second semester of 2003. In its Communication 'Developing the trans-European transport network: innovative funding solutions and interoperability of electronic toll collection systems', COM(2003) 132final, 23.4.2003, the Commission examined PPPs in the light of the need to find funding solutions for the development of the transport network
  
   
• 9. 

  See Article 73 of the Treaty
  
   
• 10. 

  See Article 36 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights
  
   
• 11. 

  See in particular Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 47, and Council Regulation (EEC) 259/93 on shipment of waste, OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1
  
   
• 12. 

  Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 9 October 1989 on the co-ordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p.23
  
   
• 13. 

  COM(1999) 657, 14.12.1999
  
   
• 14. 

  OJ C 320, 15.11.2001, p. 5. In this Communication, the Commission recognises the particular role of public service broadcasting in the promotion of democratic, social and cultural needs of each society, as acknowledged by the Protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty. Member States are competent for the definition and choice of funding of the public service and are free to define as public service remit a braod programme spectrum that may include, for instance, entertainment and sports events. The Commission retains a duty to check for abusive practices and absence of overcompensation according to the specific criteria laid down in the Communication
  
   
• 15. 

  A definition of a sector-specific regulatory authority is contained in Commission Decision 2002/627/EC of 29 July 2002 establishing the European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications Networks and Services, OJ L 200/38, 30.7.2002:
   
• 16. 

  In this context it should be noted that the Union's legal instruments are the subject of discussions within the European Convention. Indeed, Articles 24 to 28 of the Preliminary Draft Constitutional Treaty set out the proposed range of legal instruments
  
   
• 17. 

  Judgment of the Court of Justice in joint cases C-180-184/98 Pavel Pavlov and Others v Stichting Pensioenfonds Medische Specialisten
   
• 18. 

  OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p. 4 (Nos 28-30)
  
   
• 19. 

  COM(2001)598, 17.10.2001 (No 30)
  
   
• 20. 

  Cf. Article 3(1) of 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), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51
  
   
• 21. 

  For instance, Article 3(1) of the postal directive (97/67/EC) obliges Member States to 'ensure the permanent provision of a postal service.' Cf. Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p. 14
  
   
• 22. 

  Article 3(2) of the electricity directive provides that "Member States may impose on undertakings operating in the electricity sector, in the general economic interest, public service obligations which may relate to security, including ... regularity... of supplies... . Such obligations must be clearly defined, transparent, non-discriminatory and verifiable; they, and any revision thereof, shall be published and notified to the Commission by Member States without delay." Cf. Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity, OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20
  
   
• 23. 

  In the context of the proposed amendment of the electricity and gas directive the broader concept of 'reasonable pricing' is being dicussed
  
   
• 24. 

  For example, in air transport, this includes measures against over-booking and a compensation scheme for denied boarding
  
   
• 25. 

  COM(2002) 208; OJ C 137, 8.6.2002, p. 2
  
   
• 26. 

  OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p. 4
  
   
• 27. 

  Sinking of the Petrol vessel 'Prestige' and the recent SARS
  
   
• 28. 

  Dated 10.10.2003
  
   
• 29. 

  In addition to the most recent proposals following the Prestige accident, see also the proposals put forward by the European Commission after the sinking of the Erika vessel in 1999: COM (2000) 142 and COM (2000) 802
  
   
• 30. 

  Adopted on the 6 November 2002. See in particular the Communication on nuclear safety (COM 2002) 605 final
  
   
• 31. 

  Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply, Green Paper, COM(2000)769, 29.11.2000
  
   
• 32. 

  Final Report on the Green Paper 'Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply', COM(2002)321, 29.6.2002
  
   
• 33. 

  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the alignment of measures with regard to security of supply for petroleum products, OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002, p. 249; and Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply, OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002, p. 262
  
   
• 34. 

  Cf. Commission Staff Working Paper, Security of supply, The current situation at European Union level, SEC(2002)243, 28.2.2002
  
   
• 35. 

  Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internal Market, An Assessment of the need for Community action, Commission Green Paper, COM(92)480, 23.12.1992
  
   
• 36. 

  See also the specific Protocol on the system of public broadcasting in the Member States annexed to the EC Treaty by the Treaty of Amsterdam
  
   
• 37. 

  For instance, the postal directive obliges Member States to ensure a minimum of five daily deliveries to end users per week. Member States could impose a higher number of deliveries or specify the delivery requirement further
  
   
• 38. 

  As regards local inland transport, the Commission has proposed legislation that would require Member States to use public service concessions. Cf. Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on action by Member States concerning public service requirements and the award of public service contracts in passenger transport by rail, road and inland waterway, OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002, p. 246
  
   
• 39. 

  See the Court's judgment in Silver Line Reisebüro (C-66/86, judgment of 11.4.89)
  
   
• 40. 

  See the Court's judgment in Höfner (C-41/90, judgment of 23.4.91)
  
   
• 41. 

  See the Court's judgment in Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij (T-266/97, judgment of 8.7.99)
  
   
• 42. 

  Independently of the definition used in national law
  
   
• 43. 

  Cf. the Commission Interpretative Communication on Concessions under Community Law, OJ C 121, 29.4.2000, p. 2
  
   
• 44. 

  For instance, in the water sector the absence of specific, relevant regulation has led to very different industry structures across Member States. Cf. WRC/Ecologic, Study on the Application of the Competition Rules to the Water Sector in the European Community, December 2002, available at: europa.eu.int/comm/competition/ publications/studies/water_sector_report.pdf However, while commercial aspects are addressed, the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1, sets out some transparency rules for water services. Article 9 of the Directive deals with pricing policies and requires Member States in particular to take account of the principle of recovery of costs, including environmental and resource costs, and of the polluter pays principle
  
   
• 45. 

  See Annex for more detail
  
   
• 46. 

  See Liberalisation of Network Industries, Economic implications and main policy issues, European Economy No. 4, 1999
  
   
• 47. 

  Report on the state-of-play in the work on the guidelines for state aid and services of general economic interest, 13.12.2002
  
   
• 48. 

  Article 13 of 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), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51
  
   
• 49. 

  Articles 7 and 9(4) of Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p.14, as amended by EP and Council Directive 2002/39/EC, OJ L 176, 5.7.2002, p. 21
  
   
• 50. 

  Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes, OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8
  
   
• 51. 

  Council Regulation (EEC) No 1169/69 of 26 June 1969 on action by the Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway, OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, p. 1 as last amended by Council Regulation (EEC) 1893/91, OJ L 169, 29.6.1991, p. 1
  
   
• 52. 

  Commission White Paper on European Governance, COM(2001)428, 25.7.2001; Report to the Laeken European Council, COM(2001)598, 17.10.2001
  
   
• 53. 

  Report to the Laeken European Council, COM(2001)598, 17.10.2001; Communication from the Commission: A Methodological Note for the Horizontal Evaluation of Services of General Economic Interest, COM(2002)331 final, 18.6.2002
  
   
• 54. 

  Communication from the Commission: A Methodological Note for the Horizontal Evaluation of Services of General Economic Interest, COM(2002)331 final, 18.6.2002
  
   
• 55. 

  See Annex for detail
  
   
• 56. 

  Cf. Article 3(1) of 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), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51
  
   
• 57. 

  Cf. Directive 2002/22/EC, OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51; Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p. 14; Amended Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 92/96/EC and 98/30/EC concerning rules for the internal markets in electricity and natural gas, OJ C 227 E, 24.9.2002, p. 393
  
   
• 58. 

  The Internal Market - Ten Years without Frontiers, SEC(2002) 1417, 7.1.2003
  
   
• 59. 

  Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p. 14
  
   
• 60. 

  Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity, OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20
  
   
• 61. 

  See Article 9(2) of Directive 2002/22/EC
  
   
• 62. 

  OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p. 4
  
   
• 63. 

  Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply, Green Paper, COM(2000) 769, 29.11.2000
  
   
• 64. 

  Final Report on the Green Paper
   
• 65. 

  Proposal for a Directive of the EP and of the Council concerning the alignment of measures with regard to security of supply for petroleum products, OJ C 331 E , 31.12.2002, p. 249; proposal for a Directive of the EP and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply, OJ C 331 E , 31.12.2002, p. 262
  
   
• 66. 

  COM(2001) 298
  
   
• 67. 

  Cf. Commission Staff Working Paper, Security of supply, The current situation at European Union level, SEC(2002) 243, 28.2.2002
  
   
• 68. 

  Furthermore, many markets of services of general interest were only recently opened to competition and the incumbent providers often maintain a dominant position in their national market for a certain period of time. A certain degree of regulatory oversight and control is thus necessary to avoid abuse of market power
  
   
• 69. 

  In other sectors this is not a technically or economically attractive option
  
   
• 70. 

  The infrastructure manager and operator can be part of the same legal entity, but the process of allocating capacity on the network and charging for its use have to be performed by a body which is legally, organisationally and managerially independendent of any railway undertaking (Cf. Directive No 2001/14/EC, OJ L 75, 15.3.2001, p. 29)
  
   
• 71. 

  Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33
  
   
• 72. 

  Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internal Market, An Assessment of the need for Community action, Commission Green Paper, COM(92) 480, 23.12.1992
  
   
• 73. 

  Cf. the Protocol on the system of public broadcasting in the Member States annexed to the EC Treaty by the Treaty of Amsterdam
  
   
• 74. 

  A definition of a sector-specific regulatory authority is contained in Commission Decision 2002/627/EC of 29 July 2002 establishing the European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications Networks and Services, OJ L 200/38, 30.7.2002:
   
• 75. 

  Cf. ECJ, Case C-202/88, France v Commission
   
• 76. 

  In some cases, such as in electronic communications, overall policy goals and objectives of the
   
• 77. 

  It should be noted that the responsibilities of competition and regulatory authorities usually overlap to an extent. Inappropriate pricing may be incompatible with the rules set by the regulator and at the same time constitute an abuse of dominant position within the meaning of competition law. It is important, therefore, that the respective roles of regulators and competition authorities are clear in practice. In general, it can be said that the regulator applies sector-specific rules, which will often obviate the need for intervention by the competition authority. On the other hand, it is for the competition authority to intervene when the regulator does not have the power to ensure that horizontal competition rules are respected or fails to take action
  
   
• 78. 

  For instance, the energy regulator in the UK and Denmark; in communications, Community legislation stipulates that regulators must encourage the provision of information to consumers in order to enable customer choice (Articles 21 and 22 of the universal service directive (2002/22/EC))
  
   
• 79. 

  For instance, in the UK and Sweden
  
   
• 80. 

  For instance, in Belgium
  
   
• 81. 

  Article 31 of Directive EC/2001/14 and Art. 7(2) of the Communications Framework Directive
  
   
• 82. 

  For more detail on the Florence and Madrid Forum see europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/ elec_single_market/florence/index_en.html; europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/ gas_single_market/madrid.html
  
   
• 83. 

  OJ L 200, 30.7.2002, p. 38
  
   
• 84. 

  See the two independent studies undertaken for the Commission: Eurostrategies/Cullen International, The possible added value of a European Regulatory Authority for telecommunications, Dec. 1999; Nera
   
• 85. 

  ECJ Case 320/91, judgment of 17 May 1993, Corbeau,
   
• 86. 

  Cf. Article 2(1) of Commission Directive 2002/77/EC of 16 September 2002 on competition in the markets for electronic communications networks and services, OJ . L 249, 17.9.2002, p. 21; Article 7(1) of Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14
  
   
• 87. 

  ECJ Case 320/91, judgment of 19 May 1993, Corbeau,
   
• 88. 

  ECJ joint Cases 159/91 and 160/91, judgment of 17 February 1993, Poucet and Pistre,
   
• 89. 

  COM(2000) 580, p. 23-24
  
   
• 90. 

  Market performance of network industries providing services of general interest: a first horizontal assessment, SEC(2001) 1998
  
   
• 91. 

  COM(2001) 736 final
  
   
• 92. 

  COM(2002) 331 final
  
   
• 93. 

  See the examples from the telecommunications, postal, energy and transport sectors in the Commission Report on services of general interest, COM(2001) 598, 17.10.2001, p. 15
  
   
• 94. 

  europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/serv_gen/cons_satisf/index_en.html
  
   
• 95. 

  See COM(2002) 551, 16.10.2002 and Commission Staff Working Paper in support of the Report from the Commission to the Spring European Council in Brussels - Progress on the Lisbon Strategy (COM(2003) 5), SEC(2003) 25/2, 7.3.2003
  
   
• 96. 

  European Parliament report on the Commission Communication on
   
• 97. 

  See the Commission publication
   
• 98. 

  In addition, the Community and the Member States may apply the exceptions of the GATS
  
   
• 99. 

  See europa.eu.int/comm/ trade:
   
• 100. 

  See in europa.eu.int/comm/ trade.
  
   
• 101. 

  See europa.eu.int/comm/trade/bilateral/ index_en.htm
  
   
• 102. 

  The Internal Market - Ten Years without Frontiers, SEC(2002) 1417, 7.1.2003
  
   
• 103. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 104. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p.4
  
   
• 105. 

  COM(2001) 598 final, 17.10.2001
  
   
• 106. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 107. 

  Article 86 (2) provides: 'Undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest ... shall be subject to the rules contained in this Treaty, in particular to the rules on competition, insofar as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them. The development of trade must not be affected to such an extent as would be contrary to the interests of the Community'
  
   
• 108. 

  The Treaty provides in its Article 16 : 'Without prejudice to Articles 73, 86 and 87, and given the place occupied by services of general economic interest in the shared values of the Union as well as their role in promoting social and territorial cohesion, the Community and the Member States, each within their respective powers and within the scope of application of this Treaty, shall take care that such services operate on the basis of principles and conditions which enable them to fulfil their missions'
  
   
• 109. 

  Article 36 of the Charter provides: 'The Union recognises and respects access to services of general economic interest as provided for in national law and practices, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, in order to promote the social and territorial cohesion of the Union'
  
   
• 110. 

  See also the Presidency conclusions of the Barcelona European Council, 15 and 16 March 2002, para. 42 and of the Brussels European Council, 20 and 21 March 2003, para. 26
  
   
• 111. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 112. 

  There is often confusion between the term 'public service' and the term 'public sector'. The term 'public sector' covers all public administrations together with all enterprises controlled by public authorities
  
   
• 113. 

  The Commission intends to publish a Green Paper on public procurement and Public-Private-Partnerships in the second semester of 2003. In its Communication 'Developing the trans-European transport network: innovative funding solutions and interoperability of electronic toll collection systems', COM(2003) 132final, 23.4.2003, the Commission examined PPPs in the light of the need to find funding solutions for the development of the transport network
  
   
• 114. 

  See Article 73 of the Treaty
  
   
• 115. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 116. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 117. 

  See Article 36 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights
  
   
• 118. 

  See in particular Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 47, and Council Regulation (EEC) 259/93 on shipment of waste, OJ L 30, 6.2.1993, p. 1
  
   
• 119. 

  Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 9 October 1989 on the co-ordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p.23
  
   
• 120. 

  COM(1999) 657, 14.12.1999
  
   
• 121. 

  OJ C 320, 15.11.2001, p. 5. In this Communication, the Commission recognises the particular role of public service broadcasting in the promotion of democratic, social and cultural needs of each society, as acknowledged by the Protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty. Member States are competent for the definition and choice of funding of the public service and are free to define as public service remit a braod programme spectrum that may include, for instance, entertainment and sports events. The Commission retains a duty to check for abusive practices and absence of overcompensation according to the specific criteria laid down in the Communication
  
   
• 122. 

  A definition of a sector-specific regulatory authority is contained in Commission Decision 2002/627/EC of 29 July 2002 establishing the European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications Networks and Services, OJ L 200/38, 30.7.2002: 'For the purpose of this Decision: relevant national regulatory authority means the public authority established in each Member State to oversee the day-to-day interpretation and application of the provisions of the Directives relating to electronic communications networks and services as defined in the Framework Directive'
  
   
• 123. 

  In this context it should be noted that the Union's legal instruments are the subject of discussions within the European Convention. Indeed, Articles 24 to 28 of the Preliminary Draft Constitutional Treaty set out the proposed range of legal instruments
  
   
• 124. 

  Judgment of the Court of Justice in joint cases C-180-184/98 Pavel Pavlov and Others v Stichting Pensioenfonds Medische Specialisten
   
• 125. 

  OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p. 4 (Nos 28-30)
  
   
• 126. 

  COM(2001)598, 17.10.2001 (No 30)
  
   
• 127. 

  Cf. Article 3(1) of 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), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51
  
   
• 128. 

  For instance, Article 3(1) of the postal directive (97/67/EC) obliges Member States to 'ensure the permanent provision of a postal service.' Cf. Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p. 14
  
   
• 129. 

  Article 3(2) of the electricity directive provides that "Member States may impose on undertakings operating in the electricity sector, in the general economic interest, public service obligations which may relate to security, including ... regularity... of supplies... . Such obligations must be clearly defined, transparent, non-discriminatory and verifiable; they, and any revision thereof, shall be published and notified to the Commission by Member States without delay." Cf. Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity, OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20
  
   
• 130. 

  In the context of the proposed amendment of the electricity and gas directive the broader concept of 'reasonable pricing' is being dicussed
  
   
• 131. 

  For example, in air transport, this includes measures against over-booking and a compensation scheme for denied boarding
  
   
• 132. 

  COM(2002) 208; OJ C 137, 8.6.2002, p. 2
  
   
• 133. 

  OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p. 4
  
   
• 134. 

  Sinking of the Petrol vessel 'Prestige' and the recent SARS
  
   
• 135. 

  Dated 10.10.2003
  
   
• 136. 

  In addition to the most recent proposals following the Prestige accident, see also the proposals put forward by the European Commission after the sinking of the Erika vessel in 1999: COM (2000) 142 and COM (2000) 802
  
   
• 137. 

  Adopted on the 6 November 2002. See in particular the Communication on nuclear safety (COM 2002) 605 final
  
   
• 138. 

  Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply, Green Paper, COM(2000)769, 29.11.2000
  
   
• 139. 

  Final Report on the Green Paper 'Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply', COM(2002)321, 29.6.2002
  
   
• 140. 

  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the alignment of measures with regard to security of supply for petroleum products, OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002, p. 249; and Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply, OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002, p. 262
  
   
• 141. 

  Cf. Commission Staff Working Paper, Security of supply, The current situation at European Union level, SEC(2002)243, 28.2.2002
  
   
• 142. 

  Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internal Market, An Assessment of the need for Community action, Commission Green Paper, COM(92)480, 23.12.1992
  
   
• 143. 

  See also the specific Protocol on the system of public broadcasting in the Member States annexed to the EC Treaty by the Treaty of Amsterdam
  
   
• 144. 

  For instance, the postal directive obliges Member States to ensure a minimum of five daily deliveries to end users per week. Member States could impose a higher number of deliveries or specify the delivery requirement further
  
   
• 145. 

  As regards local inland transport, the Commission has proposed legislation that would require Member States to use public service concessions. Cf. Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on action by Member States concerning public service requirements and the award of public service contracts in passenger transport by rail, road and inland waterway, OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002, p. 246
  
   
• 146. 

  See the Court's judgment in Silver Line Reisebüro (C-66/86, judgment of 11.4.89)
  
   
• 147. 

  See the Court's judgment in Höfner (C-41/90, judgment of 23.4.91)
  
   
• 148. 

  See the Court's judgment in Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij (T-266/97, judgment of 8.7.99)
  
   
• 149. 

  Independently of the definition used in national law
  
   
• 150. 

  Cf. the Commission Interpretative Communication on Concessions under Community Law, OJ C 121, 29.4.2000, p. 2
  
   
• 151. 

  For instance, in the water sector the absence of specific, relevant regulation has led to very different industry structures across Member States. Cf. WRC/Ecologic, Study on the Application of the Competition Rules to the Water Sector in the European Community, December 2002, available at: europa.eu.int/comm/competition/ publications/studies/water_sector_report.pdf However, while commercial aspects are addressed, the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1, sets out some transparency rules for water services. Article 9 of the Directive deals with pricing policies and requires Member States in particular to take account of the principle of recovery of costs, including environmental and resource costs, and of the polluter pays principle
  
   
• 152. 

  See Annex for more detail
  
   
• 153. 

  See Liberalisation of Network Industries, Economic implications and main policy issues, European Economy No. 4, 1999
  
   
• 154. 

  Report on the state-of-play in the work on the guidelines for state aid and services of general economic interest, 13.12.2002
  
   
• 155. 

  Article 13 of 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), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51
  
   
• 156. 

  Articles 7 and 9(4) of Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p.14, as amended by EP and Council Directive 2002/39/EC, OJ L 176, 5.7.2002, p. 21
  
   
• 157. 

  Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes, OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8
  
   
• 158. 

  Council Regulation (EEC) No 1169/69 of 26 June 1969 on action by the Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway, OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, p. 1 as last amended by Council Regulation (EEC) 1893/91, OJ L 169, 29.6.1991, p. 1
  
   
• 159. 

  Commission White Paper on European Governance, COM(2001)428, 25.7.2001; Report to the Laeken European Council, COM(2001)598, 17.10.2001
  
   
• 160. 

  Report to the Laeken European Council, COM(2001)598, 17.10.2001; Communication from the Commission: A Methodological Note for the Horizontal Evaluation of Services of General Economic Interest, COM(2002)331 final, 18.6.2002
  
   
• 161. 

  Communication from the Commission: A Methodological Note for the Horizontal Evaluation of Services of General Economic Interest, COM(2002)331 final, 18.6.2002
  
   
• 162. 

  See Annex for detail
  
   
• 163. 

  Cf. Article 3(1) of 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), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51
  
   
• 164. 

  Cf. Directive 2002/22/EC, OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51; Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p. 14; Amended Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 92/96/EC and 98/30/EC concerning rules for the internal markets in electricity and natural gas, OJ C 227 E, 24.9.2002, p. 393
  
   
• 165. 

  The Internal Market - Ten Years without Frontiers, SEC(2002) 1417, 7.1.2003
  
   
• 166. 

  Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15 , 21.1.1998, p. 14
  
   
• 167. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 168. 

  Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity, OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20
  
   
• 169. 

  See Article 9(2) of Directive 2002/22/EC
  
   
• 170. 

  OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p. 4
  
   
• 171. 

  Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply, Green Paper, COM(2000) 769, 29.11.2000
  
   
• 172. 

  Final Report on the Green Paper 'Towards a European strategy for the security of Energy supply', COM(2002) 321, 29.6.2002
  
   
• 173. 

  Proposal for a Directive of the EP and of the Council concerning the alignment of measures with regard to security of supply for petroleum products, OJ C 331 E , 31.12.2002, p. 249; proposal for a Directive of the EP and of the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply, OJ C 331 E , 31.12.2002, p. 262
  
   
• 174. 

  COM(2001) 298
  
   
• 175. 

  Cf. Commission Staff Working Paper, Security of supply, The current situation at European Union level, SEC(2002) 243, 28.2.2002
  
   
• 176. 

  Furthermore, many markets of services of general interest were only recently opened to competition and the incumbent providers often maintain a dominant position in their national market for a certain period of time. A certain degree of regulatory oversight and control is thus necessary to avoid abuse of market power
  
   
• 177. 

  In other sectors this is not a technically or economically attractive option
  
   
• 178. 

  The infrastructure manager and operator can be part of the same legal entity, but the process of allocating capacity on the network and charging for its use have to be performed by a body which is legally, organisationally and managerially independendent of any railway undertaking (Cf. Directive No 2001/14/EC, OJ L 75, 15.3.2001, p. 29)
  
   
• 179. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 17, 19.1.2001, p.4
  
   
• 180. 

  Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive), OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33
  
   
• 181. 

  Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internal Market, An Assessment of the need for Community action, Commission Green Paper, COM(92) 480, 23.12.1992
  
   
• 182. 

  Cf. the Protocol on the system of public broadcasting in the Member States annexed to the EC Treaty by the Treaty of Amsterdam
  
   
• 183. 

  A definition of a sector-specific regulatory authority is contained in Commission Decision 2002/627/EC of 29 July 2002 establishing the European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications Networks and Services, OJ L 200/38, 30.7.2002: 'For the purpose of this Decision: relevant national regulatory authority means the public authority established in each Member State to oversee the day-to-day interpretation and applications of the provisions of the Directives relating to electronic communications networks and services as defined in the Framework Directive'
  
   
• 184. 

  Cf. ECJ, Case C-202/88, France v Commission
   
• 185. 

  In some cases, such as in electronic communications, overall policy goals and objectives of the 'national regulatory authority' are specified in Community legislation
  
   
• 186. 

  It should be noted that the responsibilities of competition and regulatory authorities usually overlap to an extent. Inappropriate pricing may be incompatible with the rules set by the regulator and at the same time constitute an abuse of dominant position within the meaning of competition law. It is important, therefore, that the respective roles of regulators and competition authorities are clear in practice. In general, it can be said that the regulator applies sector-specific rules, which will often obviate the need for intervention by the competition authority. On the other hand, it is for the competition authority to intervene when the regulator does not have the power to ensure that horizontal competition rules are respected or fails to take action
  
   
• 187. 

  For instance, the energy regulator in the UK and Denmark; in communications, Community legislation stipulates that regulators must encourage the provision of information to consumers in order to enable customer choice (Articles 21 and 22 of the universal service directive (2002/22/EC))
  
   
• 188. 

  For instance, in the UK and Sweden
  
   
• 189. 

  For instance, in Belgium
  
   
• 190. 

  Article 31 of Directive EC/2001/14 and Art. 7(2) of the Communications Framework Directive
  
   
• 191. 

  For more detail on the Florence and Madrid Forum see europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/ elec_single_market/florence/index_en.html; europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/ gas_single_market/madrid.html
  
   
• 192. 

  OJ L 200, 30.7.2002, p. 38
  
   
• 193. 

  See the two independent studies undertaken for the Commission: Eurostrategies/Cullen International, The possible added value of a European Regulatory Authority for telecommunications, Dec. 1999; Nera
   
• 194. 

  ECJ Case 320/91, judgment of 17 May 1993, Corbeau,
   
• 195. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 196. 

  Cf. Article 2(1) of Commission Directive 2002/77/EC of 16 September 2002 on competition in the markets for electronic communications networks and services, OJ . L 249, 17.9.2002, p. 21; Article 7(1) of Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14
  
   
• 197. 

  'Services of general interest in Europe', OJ C 281, 26.9.1996, p.3
  
   
• 198. 

  ECJ Case 320/91, judgment of 19 May 1993, Corbeau,
   
• 199. 

  ECJ joint Cases 159/91 and 160/91, judgment of 17 February 1993, Poucet and Pistre,
   
• 200. 

  COM(2000) 580, p. 23-24
  
   
• 201. 

  Market performance of network industries providing services of general interest: a first horizontal assessment, SEC(2001) 1998
  
   
• 202. 

  COM(2001) 736 final
  
   
• 203. 

  COM(2002) 331 final
  
   
• 204. 

  See the examples from the telecommunications, postal, energy and transport sectors in the Commission Report on services of general interest, COM(2001) 598, 17.10.2001, p. 15
  
   
• 205. 

  europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/ cons_int/serv_gen/cons_satisf/index_en.html
  
   
• 206. 

  See COM(2002) 551, 16.10.2002 and Commission Staff Working Paper in support of the Report from the Commission to the Spring European Council in Brussels - Progress on the Lisbon Strategy (COM(2003) 5), SEC(2003) 25/2, 7.3.2003
  
   
• 207. 

  European Parliament report on the Commission Communication on 'Services of general interest in Europe', COM(2000) 580 C5-0399/2001 - 2001/2157/COS; Final A5/0361/2001. Rapporteur: Werner Langen. 17.10.2001
  
   
• 208. 

  See the Commission publication 'GATS. A guide for business' and the WTO publication 'GATS. Facts and fiction'. The text of the GATS is published in OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 190
  
   
• 209. 

  In addition, the Community and the Member States may apply the exceptions of the GATS
  
   
• 210. 

  See europa.eu.int/comm/ trade: 'GATS: Pascal Lamy responds to Trade Union concerns on public services, Brussels, 7 June 2002' and 'Summary Of The EC's Initial Requests To Third Countries In The GATS Negotiations, Brussels, 1 July 2002'
  
   
• 211. 

  See in europa.eu.int/comm/ trade.
  
   
• 212. 

  See europa.eu.int/comm/trade/bilateral/ index_en.htm
  
   
• 213. 

  De Europese Commissie kent nummers toe aan officiële documenten van de Europese Unie. De Commissie maakt onderscheid in een aantal typen documenten door middel van het toekennen van verschillende nummerseries. Het onderscheid is gebaseerd op het soort document en/of de instelling van de Unie van wie het document afkomstig is.
   
• 214. 

  De Raad van de Europese Unie kent aan wetgevingsdossiers een uniek toe. Dit nummer bestaat uit een vijfcijferig volgnummer gevolgd door een schuine streep met de laatste twee cijfers van het jaartal, bijvoorbeeld 12345/00 - een document met nummer 12345 uit het jaar 2000.
   
• 215. 

  Het interinstitutionele nummer is een nummerreeks die binnen de Europese Unie toegekend wordt aan voorstellen voor regelgeving van de Europese Commissie.
  Binnen de Europese Unie worden nog een aantal andere nummerseries gebruikt. Iedere instelling heeft één of meerdere sets documenten met ieder een eigen nummering. Die reeksen komen niet overeen met elkaar of het interinstitutioneel nummer.
   
• 216. 

  Deze databank van de Europese Unie biedt de mogelijkheid de actuele werkzaamheden (workflow) van de Europese instellingen (Europees Parlement, Raad, ESC, Comité van de Regio's, Europese Centrale Bank, Hof van Justitie enz.) te volgen. EURlex volgt alle voorstellen (zoals wetgevende en begrotingsdossiers) en mededelingen van de Commissie, vanaf het moment dat ze aan de Raad of het Europees Parlement worden voorgelegd.
   
• 217. 

  Als dag van bekendmaking van een Europees besluit geldt de dag waarop het besluit in het Publicatieblad wordt bekendgemaakt, en daardoor in alle officiële talen van de Europese Unie bij het Publicatiebureau beschikbaar is.