The independence of the South Eastern Europe Regulatory Authorities for Electronic Communications is undermined by the local governments, despite the fact that the European Union prompted its safeguarding, as it constitutes a vital point of their convergence with the European acquis. At the same time the effectiveness and the independent character of the Greek telecom regulator EETT, renders the regulator a model for the other authorities of the region. These were the main conclusions of the 6th South Eastern Europe Regulatory Brainstorming Session. The Brainstorming Session was organised by the Southeastern Europe Telecommunications and Informatics Research Institute- INA gave the top management of the South Eastern Europe Regulatory Authorities the opportunity to discuss issues of common interest and to exchange views on SE Europe market developments. The session took place on Saturday of 7 June 2008 in Athens in Grand Resort Lagonissi in collaboration with the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) in the framework of 3rd International Conference on the Broadband Internet – Innovation in Broadband Networks and Services. In the Conference participated the Regulatory Authorities of Albania, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia and European Commission representative.

Mr Vasili N. Takas, INA President, opened the meeting and thanked EETT President, Mr Nikitas Alexandridis for hosting the event, while he congratulated him for the successful organisation of Conference on Broadband which is one of the most important events in the sector in a European level and provides a valuable opportunity to exchange views on broadband developments. INA President announced the approval an INA Academy developmental project for the growth of the human resources of the Regulatory Authorities of Electronic Communications in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union, which will be co financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The announcement was welcomed from the attendants and they decided to make a timetable for the implementation of the project work which for years was an authorities’ request. The meeting was completed through extensive discussion on the regional telecom markets last developments and interesting conclusions came out.

Despite the European Union recommendations and the experience accumulated in the developed West European markets, the governments persist intervening in the work of the Regulatory Authorities in various ways and prevent thus the establishment of the conditions needed for the rapid and healthy development of the electronic communications markets. Typical is the case of Bosnia where the central government has intervened in the financial management of the NRA, and in Montenegro the new telecommunications law limits also the competencies of the corresponding authority. At the same time in certain countries European countries there are also violations of the Regulatory Authorities independence as for example in a country a member of the incumbent provider’s Board of Directors was also named member in the Regulatory Authority’s Board of Directors. The situation was resolved after a European Commission intervention, which supervises the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the EU member states. Unfortunately however the European Commission has limited intervention possibilities in the countries of the Western Balkans as the last don’t belong to the EU, even if they all wish to become EU members. In comparison with these practices the Greek telecom regulator EETT enjoys complete and essential independence, a fact that reflects also in the explosive broadband development and more generally speaking the the Greek telecom market growth. Besides, the regional Regulatory Authorities look to the experience of the Greek telecom regulator and seek the Greek collaboration and assistance in order to benefit from the know-how in the electronic communications sector.

The 7th South Eastern Europe Regulatory Brainstorming Session is scheduled for next autumn.

Southeastern Europe Telecommunications and Informatics Research Institute (INA), has developed during the last few years an important human network under the framework of INA Academy’s initiatives for the telecom and information technology sector in the countries of SE Europe, which has been expanding and aims at facilitating the rapid growth of the regional telecom market in accordance with European Union standards. Part of this network is the representatives of the Independent Regulatory Telecommunication Authorities. The parties of this network meet regularly during several events organised by INA either in Greece or in SE European countries, at the local INA Academy Nodes. INA Academy has founded national Nodes to provide training, advisory support and dissemination of best practices in the SEE region in collaboration with the National Regulatory Authorities and other Non-Governmental Organisations. Nodes currently in operation include Thessaloniki, Sofia, Tirana, Skopje, Belgrade, Podgoritsa and Sarajevo.