considered to be the civil service of the Community as well as its think-tank and its referee. It is charged with guarding the European treaties, and defending the Community's interests. It 11.3.3.2 Telecommunications within the EC has seventeen members, appointed by Member States, and is divided into twenty-three Directorates General, each with spe- Telecommunications represents one of the biggest challenges to the cific responsibilities. Directorate General XIII (DG XIII) is united European Community. It is very visible, having a major responsible for Telecommunications, Information Industries impact on every business and individual. The technology used is and Innovation. Members of the Commission perform func- advanced and it is one of the least integrated sections of the EC. By tions similar to those of ministers within their own countries, the turn of the century telecommunication services are expected to each being responsible for specific portfolios within the Com- account for about seven percent of the gross output of the EC, munity's activities. The Commission meets once a week in making it one of the largest industrial sectors. Brussels. Historically telecommunications within the EC was in the hands 2. The Council of Ministers, consisting of ministers from the of individual national operators, who were government owned, Member States. It meets to take decisions on specific topics. worked in isolation, set their own standards, acted as their own There are specific councils, such as the Agriculture Council in regulatory authorities, and procured equipment almost exclusively which Agricultural ministers sit. In addition the Council con- from national suppliers who designed to their local PTT's specifi- tains many small working groups of staff (mainly civil servants cations. seconded from the Member States) who hammer out details of The telecommunications market is not distributed evenly throug- legislation. The Council of Ministers meets in Brussels, and hout the European Community. Although this market is