A long-running dispute between communications ministers and the European Parliament

Date: 27/03/1997

over a crucial telecoms law has been resolved. The interconnections directive, which ensures that new phone operators can get on to established networks without discrimination, was approved by a joint committee of MEPs and the Council of Ministers. The panel agreed a series of changes to the directive which would exclude high-quality ISDN lines from universal service obligations and press ministers to consider establishing a pan-EU regulator from 2000.