POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATIONS EUROPEAN CONFERENCE-CEPT
The establishment of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) organization is the result of initiatives undertaken by 20 European countries to create broader regional cooperation in the fields of postal services and telecommunications. As a result of these initiatives, CEPT was established by an agreement signed in Montreux, Switzerland, on 26 June 1959. CEPT, founded with the participation of 19 countries, currently has 48 members. Our country became a member of CEPT in 1960.
The tasks of CEPT are to develop strong relations among members in the fields of European postal services and electronic communications, to ensure cooperation and the formation of a dynamic market, to develop common views, priorities, and objectives in postal and electronic communications fields, to create regulations and policies encompassing the radio spectrum across Europe, to ensure regulatory harmonization across Europe by providing effective cooperation between European countries in other areas alongside the radio spectrum, and to serve as a forum for the formation, development, and adaptation of common European proposals through consultations with ITU and UPU (Universal Postal Union), as well as other regional organizations.
CEPT carries out its activities through three committees established within it:
- European Postal Regulatory Committee (CERP)
- Electronic Communications Committee (ECC)
- ITU Committee (Com ITU)
ITU Committee (Com-ITU)
The ITU Committee (Com-ITU) of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), which conducts studies focused on the agendas of ITU's world conferences and general assemblies and develops European Common Proposals to be submitted to these conferences with the contributions of member countries, holds 3 or 4 meetings per year depending on the intensity of topics on the ITU agenda. If no country wishes to host the meetings, they are held at the ECO General Headquarters in Copenhagen. Com-ITU meetings constitute an important part of tracking ITU activities and are important in terms of determining common objectives with the countries in ITU's Western European region where our country is located and ensuring coordination in studies.
European Committee of Postal Regulators (CERP)
Another committee under CEPT, the European Committee for Postal Regulations (European Committee for Postal Regulations - CERP), participates as an observer with Limited Member status in the activities of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and contributions made on behalf of CEPT are carried out under CERP coordination. It holds 3 or 4 meetings per year depending on the intensity of issues in the postal sector. Under CERP, there are the UPU and Policy working groups, and these working groups also hold 1 or 2 meetings according to their annual agenda. While the Policy Working Group conducts studies primarily oriented towards European Union and national legislation, the UPU working group focuses on the UPU agenda. Due to our institution being designated as the regulatory and supervisory authority in the postal sector by Law No. 6475, and having duties, in addition to making sectoral regulations, to monitor, evaluate, and make necessary decisions regarding the regulations and practices related to the sector by relevant international institutions and organizations, the works of CERP General Assemblies and UPU Working Groups are important.
European Communications Office (ECO)
The secretariat services for the CEPT Presidency and CEPT Committees are provided by ECO. ECO, headquartered in Copenhagen, is a permanent office established to provide technical assistance to CEPT and its member countries. Countries that are members of CEPT, including our own country, can become members of ECO.
Decisions regarding ECO's management are taken at Council meetings attended by representatives of the signatory member states. Turkey signed the Establishment Agreement of the European Radiocommunications Office, which was opened for signature on 23 June 1993, on 16 April 1998. However, developments in telecommunications technologies in recent years have necessitated the consolidation of telecommunications and radiocommunications regulations under one roof, leading to fundamental changes in the structure of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations. In 2000, the two committees operating in the fields of radiocommunications and telecommunications were merged to establish the Electronic Communications Committee (Electronic Communications Committee - ECC). Consequently, the merger of the Radiocommunications (ERO) and Telecommunications (ETO) Committees created the need to unite the offices working under these Committees into a single office, resulting in the establishment of the European Communications Office (European Communications Office - ECO). The ECO Agreement was created through amendments to the Establishment Agreement of the European Radiocommunications Office.
