No L 41/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 2. 97 II (Acts whose publication is not obligarory) 'COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 27 November 1996 concerning the additional implementation periods requested by Ireland for the implementation of Commission Directives 90/388/EEC and 96/2/EC as regards full competition in the telecommunications markets (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (97/114/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Whereas: Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Agreement establishing the Euro- pean Economic Area, Having regard to Commission Directive 90/388/EEC of 28 June 1990 on competition in the markets for telecom- munications services ('), as last amended by Directive 96/19/EC (%), and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof, Having regard to Commission Directive 96/2/EC of 16 January 1996 amending Directive 90/388/EEC with regard to mobile and personal communications (), and in particular Article 4 thereof, Having given notice (*) to interested parties to submit their comments in accordance with Article 2 (2) of Direc- tive 90/388/EEC and Article 4 of Directive 96/2/EC, ] No L 192, 24. 7. 1990, p. 10. ] No L 74, 22. 3. 1996, p. 13. () O] No L 20, 26. 1. 1996, p. 59. () OJ No C 169, 13. 6. 1996, p. S. ] A. THE FACTUAL BACKGROUND 1. The Irish request The Irish Government has, by letter of 15 May 1996, requested additional implementation periods: — until 1 January 2000, regarding the abolition of the exclusive rights currently granted to Telecomn Eireann as regards the provision of voice telephony and the underlying network infrastructure, instead of 1 January 1998 as provided in Article 2 (2) of Directive 90/388/EEC, — until 1 July 1999, regarding the lifting of restrictions on the provision of already liber- alized telecommunications services on: (a) networks established by the provider of the telecommunications service, (b) infrastructures provided by third parties, and (c) the sharing of networks, other facilities and sites, instead of 1 July 1996 as provided in Article 2 (2) of Commission Directive 90/388/EEC, — until 1 January 2000, regarding the direct inter- connection of mobile telecommunications networks, instead of immediately as provided in Article 3d of Directive 90/388/EEC.