EU lawmakers eye deal on diluting telecoms package

By Huw Jones

STRASBOURG, France, April 23 (Reuters) - Most measures to make the European Union's telecoms market more competitive and beef up consumer rights have found cross-party support in the bloc's parliament, senior lawmakers said on Wednesday.

A multi-party deal is emerging to dilute the core aspects of the measures, proposed by EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding, said three European Parliament members steering the plans through the assembly.

The assembly and EU governments have the final say on the measures.

"We can give today three main reports with opinions which are a very good basis for a bridge between all committees and political groups," Catherine Trautmann, a French socialist member of the assembly, told a news conference.

"We absolutely want this package to be decided on before the end of the term of this parliament," Trautmann added.

Parliament goes into recess next April for June elections.

"The cross-party agreements on the main points ... are there. That can be absolutely confirmed regarding the main issues. We still have some discussion on small things," said Pilar del Castillo, a Spanish centre-right member.

Malcolm Harbour, a British centre-right member, said a consensus was emerging on most points in the package but how radio frequencies should be handled remained an issue.