Hakom - Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency

ZAGREB, October 7, 2016 This year's third BEREC Plenary Session (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) was held in Vilnius, Lithuania, where main discussion topic was on new regulatory framework for the electronic communications and discussion on international roaming, since as of 15 June, roaming calls will be charged as national calls (Rome Like at Home - RLAH).

The representatives of the European Commission (EC) presented the most important news for each field of the new regulatory framework after which the open discussion was laid down on the fundamental principles within the new regulatory framework. The regulatory framework consists of legislative and non-legislative measures. The European Commission is planning to complete the ordinary legal procedure for the EC legislative measures by the end of 2017 since the new regulatory framework should be applied by the 2020.  The Legislative measures are consisted of Directive on implementing legislation of the electronic communications, BEREC Regulation, Amendments to Regulation (EU) 1316 / 2013 and (EU) 283/2014 as regards the promotion of Internet connectivity in local communities. The non-legislative measures are Development Strategy to the European Gigabit Society and 5G Action Plan. A further discussion is expected on the above mentioned topics regarding non-legislative measures as well as individual provisions of the new regulatory framework.

On September 23,  2016 , the EU  announced the new approach to fair use ( EC Implementing Acts on FUP and sustainability), which is one of necessary documents for the introduction of  roaming calls charged as national calls within the EU (Rome Like at Home - RLAH) as of June 15, next year. The topic of the meeting was BEREC views and the previously mentioned EC document.
 
Among other topics the BEREC 2017 program should be emphasized, which is to be adopted at the last BEREC Plenary Session and at the beginning of December 2016 in Berlin. In addition, the discussions on the Fourth Stakeholder Forum organized by BEREC will be held on the topics that are great importance to all stakeholders in the market as well as for the development of the electronic communications market in the future. The topics of this year's Forum will be a review of the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications, telecommunication systems and digital environment. The forum will be held in Brussels on October 17, 2016.

In addition to the BEREC meeting the IRG Plenary Session (Independent Regulators Group) was held as well as the Program for 2017 was adopted.

Prior to the  plenary session a workshop was held  on accessibility of electronic communications to people with disabilities taking into consideration that those services have a key role in the economic and social development of any society.

On behalf of the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) the plenary meeting was attended by the Deputy President of the Council of HAKOM, Mr. Domagoj Jurjević and Assistant Director of HAKOM, Mr. Marko Čavlović.
 

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.