Only thee of the EU's 27 member states implemented the new European Electronic Communications Code by the December deadline. As a result, the European Commission is starting infringement proceedings against the other 24 members for not meeting their obligation to implement the new telecoms regulatory code within two years of its approval.
The EECC approved at the end of 2018 overhauled EU telecom regulation, introducing a new focus in access regulation on encouraging deployment of gigabit infrastructure and extending many rules to providers of internet-based communication services. It covers a wide range of regulations, from harmonising call termination rates and spectrum licences across the EU to making sure apps like Skype and WhatsApp respect consumer rights and contract terms.
Only Greece, Hungary and Finland met the deadline of 21 December for transposing the code into national legislation. The Commission said it sent letters of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Sweden, requesting them to adopt and notify the relevant measures. The countries have two months to reply.
