Commission refers Belgium, Croatia and Slovakia to the CJEU over broadband cost reduction

Background and further information:

The Broadband Cost Reduction Directive proposal was put forward in March 2013 and Member States had to transpose the Directive into national law by 1 January 2016. The Directive can save up to 30% of high-speed internet roll-out costs. It includes rules, such as the reuse of existing physical infrastructure of utilities for high-speed internet. The Directive also covers the coordination of civil works across sectors, including telecom, energy, waste water, transport and other infrastructure industries.

The infringement proceedings were opened against Belgium, Croatia and Slovakia in March 2016 and the reasoned opinions were sent in these proceedings in September 2016. These Member States did not notify the European Commission on the adoption of all measures necessary in order to transpose the Directive.

The European Commission decided on 13 July 2017 to refer Belgium, Croatia and Slovakia to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for delay in transposing the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (Directive 2014/61/EU).