Annual Work Programme

BEREC Work Programme 2026

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 new 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.

BEREC aims at fostering independent, forward looking, consistent and high-quality regulation of digital infrastructures and services for the benefit of Europe and its citizens. The EECC, the BEREC Regulation and mandatory tasks resulting from the relevant legislative instruments provide the basis for the BEREC Work Programme 2026. Moreover, its objectives are based on the BEREC Strategy 2026-2030, with a close focus on the following five high-level strategic priorities:

While the priorities for 2026, as identified by the Board of Regulators (BoR), are set out in the BEREC Work Programme, the list is non-exhaustive and may be complemented by other emerging topics of interest throughout the year.

BEREC’s Work Programme seeks to be consistent with the vision, targets and roadmaps for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030, set out in the Digital Compass and the Policy Programme Path to the Digital Decade, the EU Global Gateway strategy and the European Green Deal. In addition, it aims to align with the priorities of the European Commission (EC) regarding electronic communications. The EC introduced an EU Competitiveness Compass in January 2025 as a roadmap to restore Europe’s global competitiveness while ensuring secure and sustainable prosperity. The Competitiveness Compass emphasises regulatory simplification and single-market integration and includes key initiatives for accelerating infrastructure investment, such as the Digital Networks Act, the EU Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development Act, the Space Act, and measures for strengthening the EU’s role in AI. In this light, and due to its emphasis on restoring Europe’s digital competitiveness through regulatory simplification, investment incentives, and proportionate solutions that respect the structural diversity of Member States’ markets, the Competitiveness Compass will therefore serve as a horizontal benchmark for the entirety of the BEREC Work Programme 2026.

Moreover, BEREC will continue to explore innovative networks and emerging technologies to be prepared for potential future impacts on regulation in the sector. This approach will be an integral part of all projects.

Preparation and approval process

Striving to achieve the goals outlined in the BEREC Strategy 2026-2030, the incoming BEREC Chair must prepare an outline of the BEREC Work Programme, to be adopted by the Board of Regulators by 31 January of the year preceding the chairmanship.

Once adopted, the draft BEREC Work Programme is prepared, if required, in assistance with the Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office). Moreover, the BEREC Working Groups and all BEREC Members and Participants without voting rights may make proposals to the incoming BEREC Chair. Subsequently, the draft BEREC Work Programme will be submitted to the Contact Network, where BEREC Members and Participants without voting rights will have the opportunity to submit their comments. Having received comments and any amendments having been implemented, the updated draft BEREC Work Programme is submitted to the BoR for approval.

In addition, the draft BEREC Work Programme is submitted to the European Parliament (EP), the European Council (the Council) and the EC for consultation. Furthermore, and in accordance with Article 4(5) of the BEREC Regulation, other interested parties and stakeholders are able to provide their input to the draft BEREC Work Programme through the public consultation. After the consultation processes, the BoR must adopt the final BEREC Work Programme by 31 December of the year preceding the chairmanship. The BEREC Chair, on behalf of the BoR, must transmit the final BEREC Work Programme to the EP, the Council and the EC.

BEREC Work Programmes from previous years can be consulted under the document category BEREC Strategies and Work Programmes.

BEREC maintains close relations with the EC, the Council and the EP, which, in accordance with the BEREC Regulation, may ask for its opinion. BEREC assigns high priority to such requests and therefore needs to ensure that sufficient resources can be made available at short notice. In order to meet such requests, it may become necessary to reprioritise or make changes to the Work Programme, especially with regard to the timing of individual items in it.

In order to achieve the objectives set out in the BEREC Regulation and carry out its tasks, BEREC and the BEREC Office may cooperate with competent Union bodies, offices, agencies and advisory groups, with competent authorities of third countries and with international organisations. Further information is provided on the External Cooperation page.