The European telecommunications market is to be largely deregulated next year, creating new competition in countries that have been the domain of national monopolies.

But China's rail system is a national monopoly that has not received the same investment lavished on highways by municipal and provincial governments.

They may be provided by local or national monopolies, especially in sectors which are natural monopolies.

So frequent a flight schedule failed to materialize in the early 1980's, but the spacecraft still maintained a national monopoly.

The culture of the national monopoly is still very much in evidence and too often prevents Europe's railways from operating efficiently.

It is also a good thing that national monopolies on services should not be included in the directive.

I consider that the Member States should be left to decide for themselves whether they want to deregulate their national postal monopolies.

For too long now, national monopolies controlled by governments have prevented new entrants from offering gaming services in Europe.

It would have been far better to maintain the national monopolies, with proper structures for public supervision and mutual cooperation.

So we are also in favour of breaking national monopolies on the management of infrastructure.