CEPT Reform

Introduction

The 45 country CEPT organisation has reformed itself for the first time for many years.

The CEPT Reform was implemented in September 2001, and has three main objectives:

	to implement a high level strategic role for the CEPT Assembly and the CEPT Presidency, and improve co-operation with the European Union.
	creation of a single permanent office to support the work of CEPT
	creation of a new committee to deal with electronic and radio communication activities, replacing the ERC and ECTRA which deal with radio and non-radio telecommunications respectively.

The UK held the first CEPT Presidency starting September 2001. David Hendon, Chief Executive of the Radiocommunications Agency, was the first CEPT President. The Presidency is now held by Portugal.

An Implementation Group (IG) was tasked with implementing this reform. The Implementation Group was lead by a Troika of Norway, UK and Portugal. Malcolm Johnson represented the UK in the IG Troika.

The IG involved the ERO and ETO Councils, and the three Committees (ERC,ECTRA, and CERP) in establishing the basis for its work. An implementation plan has been agreed and is currently on schedule.

The concept was that, at least initially the functions of the single office should be performed by the ERO Headquarters. The support provided by the ETO Headquarters to ECTRA should be provided by the ERO Headquarters employing the necessary ETO Headquarters staff. The ETO Headquarters would be closed. The cost of providing this support should be financed by the ETO MoU signatories. The ERO Director would need to report to the ETO Council on the conduct of the tasks performed for the ETO Council.

CERP should determine if it wishes to use the CEPT single office for its support needs. If so, the mechanisms for financing support to be provided to CERP, should be proposed by CERP. The support to CERP could commence when the identification of tasks and the establishment of a financing arrangement have been concluded, and the necessary staff resource is in place.

The cost of the ERO provided support to the Presidency is financed by the CEPT Arrangement mechanism, as was done for the Liaison Office. The Implementation Group terms of reference included the task of preparing draft terms of reference for a new committee to "improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the CEPT electronic and radio communications activities". This term is intended to cover telecommunications, radiocommunications, and all new forms of electronic communications. The name of the new committee is the Electronic Communications Committee.

The Implementation Group's proposals adopted by the CEPT Assembly in September 2001 covered these elements, as follows:

element 1

an amended ERO Convention which will be the Treaty founding the permanent solution for a single office which will be called the European Communications Office (ECO).

element 2

terms of reference, rules of procedure, working methods, and initial structure for the new Electronic Communications Committee;

element 3

an amended CEPT Arrangement and CEPT Rules of Procedure, in order to implement the Policy Decisions adopted by the Plenary Assembly, in particular to implement a high level strategic role for the CEPT Assembly and a strengthened role for the Presidency and co-operation with the European Union.

UK contact for CEPT Reform is Malcolm Johnson: Malcolm.Johnson@ra.gsi.gov.uk