The Eastern Partnership Electronic Communications Regulators Network (EaPeReg), established on 11 September 2012 in the Republic of Moldova, is an independent platform designed to bring together regulatory authorities in the field of electronic communications networks and services from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (suspended since 2021), Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The group was created with the support of the European Commission, the Eastern Partnership regulators and the regulators of the EU member states. This organization is designed as a tool to strengthen cooperation, exchange of information and experience between regulators.
Since its establishment, EaPeReg's activity has diversified and the necessary mechanisms to continue and deepen cooperation have been created. Thus, EaPeReg organizes plenary meetings, technical seminars and working groups, which discuss important issues for partner regulators.
The Group’s activity is coordinated by a President, elected for a period of one year, from the Eastern Partnership regulators, seconded by a Vice-President, elected for the same period, traditionally from the regulatory authorities of the Member States of the European Union.
The cooperation between EaPeReg and European regulatory authorities has several dimensions. There is a strong involvement in the activity of the platform from the regulatory authorities of states such as Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, the Federal Republic of Germany, Portugal, Poland and Romania.
In 2014, EaPeReg signed a Memorandum with the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), which aims to intensify cooperation between the two entities. The agreement was extended on 2 October 2019, during the BEREC-EMERG-EaPeReg-REGULATEL summit, held in Crete, Hellenic Republic.
On 11 May 2020, EaPeReg and the International Telecommunications Union – ITU, signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for high-level cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) and creating development conditions by:
· exchange of reports, guidelines, best regulatory practices and case studies on relevant topics;
· participation in relevant meetings, including the global symposium of regulators, regional regulatory forums, regional economic dialogues, ITU study groups and work groups, thematic workshops and expert working group meetings;
· undertaking joint actions, such as thematic meetings, knowledge-building workshops.
ANCOM has constantly supported the EaPeReg activity since its establishment. ANCOM participates in the activities of the three working groups of EaPeReg:
· the working group responsible for radio spectrum issues (SEWG);
· the working group responsible for roaming issues (REWG);
· the working group responsible for issues related to the independence of regulatory institutions (IRB EWG) – chaired by ANCOM.
ANCOM also participated in and shared its experience from plenary meetings and technical seminars regarding universal service, the organization of an independent regulatory authority, spectrum management, the organization of tenders for granting the rights of use of radio frequencies, consumer protection or the application of sanctions in case of non-compliance with the secondary legislation in the field of electronic communications.
In 2024 ANCOM serves as the Vice President of EaPeReG, teaming up with ANRCTI from Republic of Moldova, who is the president of the platform. Previously, ANCOM held the position of Vice President of Group of Electronic Communications Regulators in the Eastern Partnership member countries (EaPeReg) in 2017.
