Mission & Strategy

Mission

”BEREC aims at fostering the independent, consistent and high-quality regulation of digital markets for the benefit of Europe and its citizens.” (BEREC Strategy 2021-2025)

The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) contributes to the development and better functioning of the internal market for electronic communications networks and services. It does so by aiming to ensure a consistent application of the European Union (EU) regulatory framework and by aiming to promote an effective internal market in the telecoms sector, in order to bring even greater benefits to consumers and businesses alike.

Furthermore, BEREC assists the European Commission (EC) and the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in implementing the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. It provides advice on request and on its own initiative to the European institutions and complements, at European level, the regulatory tasks performed by the NRAs at national level.

The NRAs and the EC must take utmost account of any opinion, recommendation, guidelines, advice or regulatory best practice adopted by BEREC.

Strategy

The latest BEREC Strategy 2021-2025 covers a period of five years, instead of three. This extended period enables better alignment with the legislative cycle of the EC, and with the objectives and new priorities set by President von der Leyen for the period 2019-2024.

BEREC will plan its multiannual work around the four general objectives of Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code - the 'EECC':

In the process, BEREC will give special consideration to the three high-level strategic priorities listed below:

Promoting full connectivity

BEREC prioritises work that improves the conditions for the expansion and take-up of secure, competitive and reliable high-capacity networks (both fixed and wireless) across Europe and ensures a smooth transition from legacy infrastructures.

Supporting sustainable and open digital markets

BEREC prioritises work that relates to the functioning of digital markets, namely focusing on exploring conditions and addressing issues regarding digital service providers and end users in the digital market.

Empowering end users

BEREC continues its work to promote choice and empowerment for end users by prioritising work to build trust in Information and Communications Technology and digital services and to enable and result in better-informed choices by consumers.

BEREC will revisit its strategic priorities over the course of the period to ensure the relevance and alignment of its strategy with future developments.

Establishment

The legal basis for BEREC is set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office) – the ‘BEREC Regulation’. The current BEREC Regulation replaces 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, which was part of the Telecoms Reform package.

The Telecoms Reform package has now been replaced by the EECC. The EECC establishes a significant number of new tasks for BEREC, such as issuing guidelines on several topics, reporting on technical matters, keeping registers, lists or databases, and delivering opinions on internal market procedures for draft national measures on market regulation. Overall, the EECC aims to create an internal market for electronic communications within the EU while ensuring a high level of investment, innovation and consumer protection through enhanced competition.