All European member states have a so-called national regulatory authority (NRA), which regulates electronic communications. In the Netherlands this is OPTA. All of the NRAs work together with the European Commission (EC) in a body called the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). BEREC is established by Regulation (EC) No. 1211/2009 of 25 November 2009 and is comprised of a Board of Regulators consisting of the heads of 27 NRA’s. The EU Commission, EFTA States (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and EU candidate States (Turkey, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Repulic of Macedonia) participate as observers to the Board of Regulators. There is an association confined to the NRAs, which is called the Independent Regulators Group (IRG).
OPTA believes that European harmonisation is a very important matter and it plays a pioneering role within a European context. Between 2008 and 2010 the OPTA Commission chairperson is a member of the IRG’s executive board. The OPTA Commission chairperson is chairperson elect for BEREC and IRG for the year 2011. It is partly because of this that OPTA is able to exert any influence in relation to matters such as international roaming.
BEREC and IRG
One of the aims of both the IRG and the BEREC is to apply the European framework 
European frameworkThe legislation and regulations with which all European member states are required to comply. They incorporate the relevant legislative provisions into their own national laws. Once every so many years this framework is revised and all of the countries are required to implement the amendments. In 2009 the Ministry of Economic Affairs started to implement the most recent amendments. European frameworkThe legislation and regulations with which all European member states are required to comply. They incorporate the relevant legislative provisions into their own national laws. Once every so many years this framework is revised and all of the countries are required to implement the amendments. In 2009 the Ministry of Economic Affairs has started to implement the most recent amendments. in the various countries as consistently as possible. The IRG and BEREC conduct projects involving issues which are high on the agenda in many countries. With regard to 2010 one might consider the regulation of international roaming tariffs International roaming tariffsThe tariffs you pay if you make calls, send SMS messages or transmit data while abroad. International roaming tariffsThe tariffs you pay if you make calls, send SMS messages or transmit data while abroad. , investments in next generation networks Next generation networksUltra-fast broadband networks, such as those using fibre optic cable, through which high-quality telephony, internet access and television services can be provided. Next generation networksUltra-fast broadband networks, such as those using fibre optic cable, through which high-quality telephony, internet access and television services can be provided. and Universal Services. For example, the various project committees draw up Best practices and develop so-called common positions or they prepare recommendations for the EC, when the latter is drafting new recommendations.
All of the NRAs conduct market analyses periodically. Their decisions are presented to the EC. It may happen that an NRA would like to take a decision but is blocked by the EC. For example, the EC may feel that it is inadequately substantiated or runs counter to the European internal market. In these types of cases the IRG and BEREC can advise the relevant NRA about the decision in question.
Internet safety
Within the domain of internet safety OPTA is a member of the Contact Network of Spam Authorities (CNSA). It is through this forum that European regulators and policymakers work together to tackle spam. At a global level OPTA is active in the London Action Plan (LAP), an organisation in which those fighting spam and spyware SpywareUndesirable software installed on your computer. can work together and learn from each other. It includes both public bodies and private organisations and businesses.
European framework: the legislation and regulations with which all European member states are required to comply. They incorporate the relevant legislative provisions into their own national laws. Once every so many years this framework is revised and all of the countries are required to implement the amendments. In 2009 the Ministry of Economic Affairs started to implement the most recent amendments.
Common position: an opinion of the ERG concerning a substantive matter which sets out how the ERG wishes to deal with it. The NRAs have agreed with each other that they will stick to common positions as far as possible based on the principle of comply or explain.
Next generation networks (NGN): ultra-fast broadband networks, such as those using fibre optic cable, through which high-quality telephony, internet access and television services can be provided.
International roaming tariffs : the tariffs you pay if you make calls, send SMS messages or transmit data while abroad.