The European Union (EU) Tues. unveiled its offer for the Doha rou...
The European Union (EU) Tues. unveiled its offer for the Doha round of World Trade Organization talks. The EU proposed to open its markets to 3rd countries in several sectors, including telecom and computer services. The offer focuses particularly…
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on giving services providers from developing countries better access to European markets, the European Commission (EC) said. In the area of telecom, the EU offered to guarantee 3rd countries’ operators full access to the internal market, while protecting the EU’s right to define its universal service objectives. The offer also would remove restrictions such as (1) the prohibition against telcos’ engaging in nontelecom activities (computer-related services) in Greece, (2) restriction on foreign ownership in Portugal or (3) bans against providing telecom services across borders in several member states. In computer services, the EU said it would give full market access to foreign service providers, including highly skilled, self- employed computer experts. For example, the EC said, foreign computer experts will be allowed to enter the EU temporarily to maintain and repair computer systems and networks. The EU made no new commitment on audiovisual services, maintaining privileged treatment for, among other things, audiovisual works originating from the EU and other European countries.