European Telecom Market Authority

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The European Telecom Market Authority (more properly known as the European Electronic Communications Market(s) Authority or EECMA) is a proposed agency for the European Union. Although initially presented as having power to override national telecommunications regulators [1], it would in fact essentially act merely as a consultative body for the European Commission.

It is proposed that the Authority be able to issue opinions and recommendations, to the Commission, concerning spectrum issues, market analyses that have not been completed on time by national regulators, and on the possible imposition of remedies such as price control accounting separation, or indeed functional separation. The Commission would have to take the utmost account of these opinions and recommendations, but would not be bound by them.

It is also proposed that the Authority be able to issue decisions, which would be binding, in the area of the ETNS (which concerns the pan-EU fixed telephone prefix +3883). The Commission would have no say in this.

The Authority would consist of 27 members representing each of the 27 national regulators and voting by simple majority.

It has been reported that a similar system of cooperation exists between the Commission and the European Medicines Agency [[2]] although in the context of authorisations to market products, rather than regulation of market conditions.