Brussels – The European Commission has launched a public consultation to prepare the review of the Significant Market Power (SMP) Guidelines, dating from 2002. The goal is to update the guidelines in time for the implementation of the new European Electronic Communications Code. Vice-President for Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip said: “Telecommunications are the backbone of the Digital Single Market, which is why we have to check thoroughly how best to regulate markets in this fast-paced environment and how to ensure a level playing field for all operators, whether big or small. The consultation will support us in making our Guidelines fit for the future”.
The SMP Guidelines set out principles for use by the national telecoms regulators under the European regulatory framework for electronic communications in relation to market-based analysis and assessment of significant market power, to guide regulators in their decisions whether and when to intervene in markets. The update of the guidelines shall take into account changes in the telecoms markets and recent developments in regulatory and competition law. Member States, national regulatory authorities, national competition authorities, as well as electronic communications providers, academics in law and economics, and consumers are invited to express their opinion. The public consultation will be open until 26 June 2017.
