A Bulgarian EU commissioner has hit out at Apple's "improper" policy of bundling iTunes with its iPod players.

The claims were made by Meglena Kuneva, EC Commissioner for Consumer Protection, who has a responsibility to protect the rights of European consumers.

"Do you find it proper that a music CD can be played on all trademarks of players, but the music sold in iTunes can be played only on an iPod?" Kuneva asked German magazine Focus. "I find it quite improper and I will do my best to change it."

Apple could face separate legal action in Norway, which is not a member of the EU, after the government criticised the iTunes monopoly in January.

The Norwegians have set a deadline of October 2007 for Apple to open its digital rights management system up to other companies.

Consumer rights groups in Finland, Germany and France have also laid into the iPod maker in recent months.