Government favours Ofcom over pan-EU regulator

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 11 Jun 2008 at 11:00

The Government has sided with Ofcom against EU plans for a pan-European telecoms regulator.

"The Government have never been convinced of the case for a new pan-EU regulator," notes Baroness Vadera, parliamentary under-secretary of state for business and competitiveness in a ministerial statement. "You will be reassured to know that none of my opposite numbers in other member states, or indeed the views from the European Parliament, support the Commission's original proposals."

She goes on to confirm that Britain, together with Germany and France, intend on laying out their objections during a meeting with telecoms Commissioner, Viviane Reding in Luxembourg.

"Together with like-minded Ministers, I intend to use this discussion... to reiterate our views on the elements necessary for an independent advisory body to build upon existing arrangements and strengthen the application of the framework."

Vadera says that rather than a pan-EU authority the Government is in favour of "a much smaller entity comprising the chairs of all 27 National Regulatory Authorities complemented by a small permanent secretariat appropriate only to undertake the revised remit."

Ofcom will undoubtedly take heart from the Government's stance, following a spat with the EU when the proposals were first announced.

At the time Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards questioned whether such a body would undermine the watchdog's authority, a suggestion the EU refuted in a strongly-worded letter which rather bluntly "wondered what Mr Richards is talking about."