Commission drafts guidelines on financing electronic communications infrastructure
In the context of the mid-term review of structural funds interventions, the Commission has announced that it is to prepare guidelines to facilitate regional and local authorities in their appraisal and selection of investment projects related to electronic communications. In regions where the population density is low or the location is isolated, investing in electronic communications infrastructures can be very costly for the local and regional authorities. In an effort to remedy, or at least alleviate these economic and social constraints, European structural funds are allocated to help the regions co-finance the deployment of necessary infrastructures, such as broadband networks. Commenting on the mid term review, Regional Policy Commissioner, Michel Barnier said: 'The mid term review of the regional development programme 2000 to 2006 is an opportunity to reinforce the mobilisation of the European Structural Funds for the benefit and development of the information society. These guidelines will clarify the conditions needed for this mobilisation, particularly with respect to issues such as competition and the opening of the [telecommunications] market.' Indeed, the guidelines are expected to set out some general criteria and modalities for the financing of electronic communications infrastructure. Specifically, they will aim to encourage regional and local authorities to participate in projects that are part of a global strategy for regional development. The guidelines will also promote transparency with regard to access to communication networks and will seek to prevent the distortion of competition. In an effort to provide a comprehensive approach to the drafting of the guidelines, the Commission will consult all interested parties, and in particular regional and local authorities, and invite them to submit their observations and express their own views. The closing date for participating in the open consultation is 2 July.