The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EC) No 1211/2009 establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Office

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS REGULATION DO?

It defines the rules on the establishment and operation of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).

BEREC advises the EU institutions on developing a better internal market for electronic communication networks and services and forms links between national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and the European Commission.

KEY POINTS

The main objectives of BEREC are to:

• develop and disseminate best practices among NRAs;
• assist NRAs in the regulatory field;
• deliver opinions on draft decisions, recommendations and guidelines;
• issue reports and provide advice on the electronic communications sector.

Composition and organisation:

• The board of regulators consists of representatives from the NRAs established in each EU country. The main responsibility of the board is to take all decisions relating to the performance of BEREC and to exercise BEREC’s tasks, which include:
  • publishing opinions on draft measures of NRAs (for example, on the designation of operators with significant market power);
  • consultation on draft recommendations on relevant product and service markets;
  • consultation on draft measures relating to effective access to the 112 emergency call number and the effective implementation of the 116 numbering range (helplines);
  • monitoring and reporting on the electronic communications sector and publishing an annual report on its developments.
• BEREC is assisted by the office, which consists of a Management Committee and an administrative manager. The committee, which is composed of members of the board of regulators and a representative from the Commission, is responsible for supervising the manager, who is head of the office. The main task of the office is to provide professional and administrative support services to BEREC.
• The work of BEREC is organised into expert working groups which tackle specific topics included in the BEREC work programme or following requests from the EU institutions.

Funding

The BEREC office’s financial resources come mainly from the EU and from voluntary contributions from EU countries or NRAs.

The administrative manager establishes the budget, which is drawn up by the Management Committee.

Recent work

The BEREC strategy for 2015-2017 will focus on 3 priorities:

• promoting competition and investment;
• promoting the internal market;
• empowering and protecting end users.

BEREC provides input and exchanges views with the European Commission concerning the evaluation and review of the current rules for the electronic communications market, which is part of the Commission’s digital single market initiative.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It applies from 7 January 2010.

BACKGROUND

Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)

ACT

Regulation (EC) No 1211/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Office (OJ L 337, 18.12.2009, pp. 1-10)

last update 22.02.2016