Electronic Communications
- BEREC - Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications
BEREC is the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications. In addition to the voting members – the regulatory authorities of the 27 EU Member States – further non-voting participants are also represented. These include, among others, the regulatory authorities of the EEA states Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, as well as those of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
BEREC monitors developments in the European telecommunications market, advises the institutions of the European Union, and issues guidelines within the framework of EU legislation. Furthermore, BEREC promotes the exchange of best practices and works towards the consistent implementation of regulatory requirements across Europe.
The chairmanship of BEREC is held for one year by a person elected from a national EU regulatory authority. The Chair is supported by a so-called Mini-Board, consisting of the Incoming Chair, the Outgoing Chair, and three additional Vice-Chairs – one of whom is nominated by the non-voting participants.
BEREC operates on the basis of an annual work programme as well as a five-year strategy.
Its main decision-making body is the Board of Regulators, in which each regulatory authority of the EU Member States is represented by one voting member. The meetings of the Board of Regulators are prepared by the Contact Network. Day-to-day work is carried out in twelve thematic Working Groups, each led by two Co-Chairs. RTR-GmbH is represented with experts in all of these bodies and actively contributes to their activities.
The BEREC Office, a European Union agency based in Riga, provides administrative and organisational support to BEREC.
- DMA - High-Level Group
This high-level group advises the European Commission to ensure the coherent implementation of the Digital Markets Act as well as other sector-specific regulations applicable to gatekeepers. RTR.Telekom.Post Managing Director Klaus M. Steinmaurer is one of six people representing BEREC in the DMA High-Level Group.
To address specific issues, sub-groups can be established. So far, three such sub-groups have been set up: the Article 7 Digital Markets Act sub-group on interoperability issues (e.g. messenger services), the Digital Markets Act data-related obligations sub-group on obligations under the DMA related to (personal) data, and most recently, the Artificial Intelligence sub-group, which is tasked with monitoring developments in the field of AI. Experts from RTR’s Telecommunications and Postal Services Department contribute as part of the BEREC delegation to these working groups.
- COCOM - Communications Committee
COCOM supports the European Commission on telecommunications matters. The committee is composed of representatives of the Commission, the national ministries, and national regulatory authorities (NRAs); in Austria, these are the BMWKMS and RTR-GmbH. The committee’s work is part of the comitology procedure, in which implementing acts of the European Commission are voted on.
- ITU - International Telecommunication Union
The ITUis a specialized agency of the United Nations dealing with global technical aspects of telecommunications. It is divided into the areas of radio communication, telecommunications, and development. We contribute to ITU activities in the areas of telecommunications and frequencies.
- OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
The OECD’s central role is to develop a shared understanding of economic policy measures and to promote international cooperation. It serves as a hub for the exchange of knowledge, data, and analyses, as well as for disseminating best practices. At the request of the Federal Chancellery, we represent Austria in the OECD’s Working Party on Connectivity Services and Infrastructures (WP CSI, formerly WP CISP), which addresses communication infrastructures and services.
- Council's Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society
Regulations, directives, and decisions at the EU level are prepared by Council working parties, composed of representatives from the EU Member States. We support the Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS) upon invitation on issues concerning the competences of regulatory authorities, through the preparation of written statements and participation in the Working Party’s meetings.
- CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
- IRG - Independent Regulators Group
The IRG primarily serves its roughly three dozen members as a platform for opinion building, open discussions, knowledge exchange, and knowledge transfer on a wide range of telecommunications regulation issues. For example, the IRG organises workshops for the training and development of junior and senior experts from regulatory authorities.
- EaP - Eastern Partnership
The goals of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) – comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – are stronger connectivity and economic development in the EU’s neighbouring states. We contribute our expertise to support their rapprochement with the European Union.
- EMERG - European Mediterranean Regulators Group
EMERG monitors developments in electronic communications in Mediterranean countries. The group supports alignment with the EU’s regulatory framework. Its members include not only Mediterranean countries but also BEREC members such as ourselves.
- RSC - Radio Spectrum Committee
The RSC is responsible for the specific technical measures required to implement the broader Radio Spectrum Policy. It is composed of representatives of the Member States and is chaired by the European Commission.
- RSPG - Radio Spectrum Policy Group
In the RSPG , the European Commission’s advisory group on radio spectrum, frequency-related issues are discussed with the aim of achieving EU-wide harmonisation.
Postal Services
- ERGP - European Regulators Group for Postal Services
The ERGPis the group of European regulatory authorities for the postal sector. In addition to the voting members – the regulatory authorities of the 27 EU Member States – further non-voting participants are also represented. These include, among others, the regulatory authorities of the EEA states Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, as well as those of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
The ERGP supports and advises the European Commission in the area of postal services. This concerns, for example, the consolidation of the internal market, issues related to postal services within its remit and in connection with the development of the internal market, as well as the consistent application of the legal framework across all Member States.
In addition, the ERGP works on carrying out extensive and timely consultations with market participants, consumers, and end-users, which should be conducted openly and transparently in agreement with the Commission.
The chairmanship of the ERGP is held for one year by a person elected from a national EU regulatory authority. The Chair is supported by the so-called Troika, consisting of the Incoming Chair and the Outgoing Chair, as well as by the Steering Group, which also includes the Co-Chairs of the Working Groups.
The ERGP operates on the basis of an annual work program and a three-year mid-term strategy. Its main decision-making body is the Plenary, which meets physically twice a year and in which each regulatory authority of the EU Member States is represented by one voting member. The meetings of the Plenary are prepared by the Contact Network. Day-to-day work is carried out in five thematic Working Groups, each led by two Co-Chairs. RTR-GmbH is represented by experts in all of these bodies and actively contributes to their activities.
- CERP - European Committee for Postal Regulation
We participate in CERP both in the Plenary and in the Policy Working Group. Through the exchange between ministries and NRAs from the 44 member states, postal regulation across Europe is to be continuously improved. At the same time, CERP also prepares the meetings of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
- PDC - Postal Directive Committee
The PDC supports the European Commission on issues of postal market regulation. The committee is composed of representatives of the European Commission, the national ministries, and regulatory authorities; in Austria, these are the BMWKMS and RTR-GmbH. The committee’s work is part of the comitology procedure, in which implementing acts of the European Commission are voted on.
- Council Working Party on Telecommunications and the Information Society
Within the framework of the Council Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society, meetings are also held on postal matters. More information on RAG-TK can be found above under Telecommunications.
Trust Services & cybersecurity
- ECATS Expert Group at ENISA - European Competent Authorities for Trust Services at the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity
The security and integrity of networks and services is the task of ENISA´s responsibility. It supports and advises the European Commission and the Member States on matters of network and information security, the further development and implementation of EU legislation, as well as the prevention and management of significant security incidents.
- FESA - Forum of European Supervisory Authorities for Trust Service Providers
FESA brings together the supervisory authorities of the EU and EEA states, as well as EU candidate countries. The forum is intended to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of information, while also ensuring mutual support and agreement on best practices.