Europe - EC has sent a second request to Romania concerning the independence of its regulator ANCOM

The European Commission has decided to send a second formal request for information to Romania on the independence of its telecoms regulator ANCOM (Autoritatea Nationala pentru Administrare si Reglementare in Comunicatii). The Commission's request is prompted by concerns that, as far as the Commission is aware, Romania still does not have a law which guarantees the independence of the regulator, and that the Government can use emergency legislation to restructure this body. The information request is in the form of a second letter of formal notice under infringement procedures laid down by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 258 of the TFEU). A separate infringement procedure against Romania over the independence of its telecoms regulator, concerning separation of public bodies supervising telecoms operators and those providing telecoms services, is still pending.

Telecoms: Commission seeks further information from Romania on regulator's independence