OREANDA-NEWS.  September 14, 2012. Leaders of regulator bodies in the area of electronic communication of the Eastern Partnership states (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) has established the Network of Electronic Communications Regulators and signed the Understanding Memorandum at their first plenary sitting in Chisinau. Director of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communication and Information Technologies Serghei Sitnic notes that creating the Network of Regulators of the Eastern Partnership will give its members new opportunities to exchange experience and adopt European principles and practices used for regulation of the electronic communication sector.

The Understanding Memorandum was signed by leaders of controlling bodies of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The representative of the regulator from Azerbaijan informed that they had not yet finalized the procedure of coordinating the document with the relevant authorities in their country, specifying that the final decision would be taken after this procedure is finished. The participants of the sitting in Chisinau discussed proposals to be included in the draft plan of action of the Eastern Partnership regulator Group for the next year.

The draft plan is going to be discussed and adopted at the plenary sitting to be held at the end of January 2013 in Kiev. The EaP Regulators Network sets as its objective to deepen the cooperation between EaP and EU regulators, to coordinate the regulatory principles in order to improve the efficiency and predictability of their regulatory activity. The main emphasis in the work of the new organization will be placed on ensuring a regular exchange of information and experience between EaP and EU electronic communications regulators, on monitoring the market development and the regulatory framework in EaP countries, on approximation to EU standards and the application of best regulatory practices in EaP countries.

To achieve these goals within January1, 2013 – December 31, 2014 the Network will be benefiting from a technical assistance project funded by the EU, with a total commitment of about 1 mln. euros. In the framework of this project workshops will be held to cover separate matters on regulation, exchange meetings will take place, the analysis will be done to compare trends in electronic communication markets and regulatory and legal framework evolution in states of EP, which will be regularly updated, etc.