CEPT was established in 1959 by 19 countries, which has now expanded to 45 countries which virtually covers the whole geographical area of Europe. It deals exclusively with regulatory matters in the field of posts and telecommunications.

Until reforms were adopted in September 2001, CEPT had three committees (see also List of Abbreviations)

	ERC (European Radiocommunications Committee) - The ERC has established the ERO (European Radiocommunications Office) in Copenhagen. ERC matters are dealt with by DTI, RA.
	CERP (Committee on European Postal Regulation) - Matters are dealt with by DTI, CGBPS
	ECTRA (European Committee forTelecommunications Regulatory Affairs) - ECTRA established the ETO (European Telecommunications Office) in Copenhagen. Their support functions have recently been transferredto the ERO and the ETO has been closed (January 2001)

ERC and ECTRA have now been combined to form the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC).

Most of the radio related activities take place within 4 working groups of the ERC:

	Spectrum Engineering
	Frequency Management
	Radio Regulatory
	Conference Preparatory Group

ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) was established by CEPT in 1985 when the CEPT telecommunication standardisation activities were transferred from CEPT to ETSI.

Chairmanships

ECC Radio Regulatory Working Group	Jo Madigan (Chairman)
ECC Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-2003	Terry Jeacock (Vice-chairman)

CEPT has carried out a CEPT Reform which was implemented in September 2001.

The new CEPT shall have the following aims:

1. The essential aims of CEPT shall be to strengthen relations between member Administrations, to promote their co-operation and to contribute to creating a dynamic market in the field of European posts and telecommunications.

2. Its functions shall include in particular :

	working out common views on the priorities and aims set in the field of posts and telecommunications;
	examining, in a European context, public policy and appropriate regulatory issues regarding posts and telecommunications, including the use of the radio spectrum;
	promoting further European harmonisation, inter alia of the radio spectrum, with an emphasis on practical cooperation between Western, Central and Eastern European Countries to help realise Europe-wide regulatory harmonisation;
	establishing necessary contacts and co-operation with the European Commission and European organisations and associations (industry, operators, users, consumers etc.) dealing with postal and telecommunications matters;
	providing a forum for developing, adopting and promoting European common proposals in ITU and UPU, including contacts with regional organisations, as appropriate;
	contributing to establish prospective views (scenarios) of the future regulatory environment, taking into account technology and market development.

List of Abbreviations

ECC - Electronic Communications Committee	Established in September 2001 to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the CEPT electronic and radiocommunication activities, and take forward work previously undertaken by the ERC and ECTRA
ERC - European Radiocommunications Committee	The ERC was established by CEPT to develop radiocommunications policy and to co-ordinate frequency, regulatory and technical matters concerning radiocommunications
ERO - European Radiocommunications Office	The ERO is a permanent resource of the ERC which provides, amongst other things, a centre of expertise to develop long term planning proposals and a focal point for consultations. It has recently (January 2001) taken over from the ETO the task of providing administrative supports for ECTRA
CERP - Committee on European Postal Regulation	One of three principal committees of the CEPT, dealing with postal matters only
ECTRA - The European Committee for Telecommunication Regulatory Affairs	ECTRA is one of the three principal regulatory committees of CEPT, the others being the ERC and CEPR. ECTRA's principal roles are to develop common policy in telecommunications regulation, to generate common European positions in international fora, such as the ITU, and to exchange opinions on matters of common interest between CEPT Members

UK contact for CEPT is George Pritchard: george.pritchard@ra.gsi.gov.uk