Significant differences continue to exist in the implementation of the European regualtory framework. Those countries which have the best regualtory framework for the promotion of competition and innovation continue to attract the highest levels of investment.
This is the third Regulatory Scorecard, and the first to be released since various Member States have had the opportunity to implement the New Regulatory Framework ("NRF") that entered into force in July 2003. Within the scope of the NRF, the Framework Directive places various obligations on National Regulatory Authorities ("NRAs"). In particular, Article 8 requires NRAs to promote competition amongst electronic communications networks, services and associated facilities by, inter alia, ensuring against distortions or restrictions of competition and by encouraging efficient investment in infrastructure and promoting innovation. In view of the state of regulations in force on 31 August 2005, the Scorecard Report seeks to determine how effectively each of the surveyed sixteen countries promotes investment and competition, by measuring the powers and performance of NRAs and the regulatory regimes overall.
The countries covered in the report are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
