EC decides Ukrainian regulator NCEC can join BEREC

The European Commission adopted a Decision to authorise BEREC membership without voting rights for the NCEC, the Ukrainian regulatory authority responsible for electronic communications. This means that the NCEC can take part in the day-to-day work of BEREC’s Board of Regulators and that Ukraine may appoint experts to join in BEREC’s working groups.

The Commission’s Decision is based on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, through which the EU and Ukraine have committed to working together to align Ukraine’s laws with EU electronic communications laws and to promoting cooperation between Ukraine’s national regulator and national regulators across the EU Member States.
Earlier this year, telecom operators based in the EU and in Ukraine signed a joint statement to secure and stabilise affordable or free roaming and international calls between the EU and Ukraine, thus helping Ukrainians displaced throughout Europe to stay in touch with family and friends back home and to have access to reliable information. The Commission and the European Parliament have facilitated this joint statement that BEREC is now monitoring.

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, said: “It is more important than ever to keep Ukraine as close as possible to the EU single market. I am therefore happy to welcome the Ukrainian regulator in BEREC. It will allow for closer cooperation on connectivity issues in the current emergency and will lay the groundwork for bringing Ukraine’s rules for electronic communications closer to the EU telecom framework.”

BEREC Chair 2022 Annemarie Sipkes (ACM, Netherlands) said: “BEREC and its member NRAs already established a relationship with our colleagues from the NCEC, as recently was underlined by our cooperation regarding roaming tariffs and joint actions by Ukrainian and EU operators to ensure affordable connectivity for Ukrainian refugees. Participating in BEREC enables the NCEC to join our project to promote meaningful end-to-end connectivity and empowering end-users.”