Commission calls on Italy to comply with EU electronic communications rules

Italy has not taken sufficient administrative action to eliminate harmful interference caused by Italian FM (frequency modulation) radio broadcasters into neighbouring Member States in the FM frequency band (87.5-108 MHz). The interference extends namely to French, Croatian, Maltese, and Slovenian territory and prevents the broadcasters in respective countries from using radio spectrum in the FM band for their national FM radio channels. Despite longstanding exchanges with Italy within the framework of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group, the Commission considers that Italy has not fulfilled its obligations under the European Electronic Communications Code and the Framework Directive. Therefore, the Commission is sending a letter of formal notice to Italy, which now has two months to reply to the arguments raised. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.