Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Office. 'Telecoms Package'

Discussions in the Council bodies on this proposal showed that almost all Member States were against the creation of the European electronic communications market authority as proposed by the Commission. Ministers also discussed the issue of the establishment of a new market authority. The presidency summarised the debate as follows:

• there was a broad consensus among the majority of Member States that there is a need to improve the consistency of functioning of the internal market for electronic communications;
• there is a need for a prior agreement on aims and tasks of the new body before the determination of its legal structure;
• the new body has to function in accordance with the principles of efficiency, transparency, independence and expertise;
• the establishment of the new body would have no affect on the existence and functioning of the European Network and Information Security Agency;
• tasks of the new body would not include spectrum management issues;
• regarding aims and tasks, the new body has to focus on economic regulation issues.

The debate also showed that there are many reservations regarding the establishment of a new body as a Community body and that there is broad support among Member States to the idea that the existing European regulators group should be enhanced.