Between 9 and 11 September 2026, meetings of the co-chairs of the BEREC working groups and the BEREC and IRG Contact Network (CN) took place in Tirana. Discussions focused primarily on the implementation of this year’s work programme, the preparation of BEREC’s work programme for 2027, and current issues relating to the proposal for the Digital Networks Act (Digital Networks Act – DNA) and technological developments in electronic communications.
At this year’s second meeting of the co-chairs of the BEREC working groups, participants reviewed activities to date and the progress of the implementation of the 2026 work programme, and discussed the preparation of activities for the coming year. BEREC’s working groups cover key areas of regulatory work, ranging from the open internet, market regulation and roaming to user protection, digital markets, cyber security and resilience, network development and the European regulatory framework.
Among the co-chairs of the working groups is AKOS representative Katja Kmet-Vrčko, who, together with Zdravko Jukić from the Croatian regulator HAKOM, co-chairs the working group on cybersecurity and resilience (Cybersecurity and Resilience – CSR). The group deals with issues relating to cybersecurity, network resilience, telecoms fraud and risk management.
A significant part of the meeting was also devoted to coordinating further activities until the end of 2026, when the Slovenian regulator’s BEREC presidency comes to an end.
This was immediately followed by the third meeting this year of the BEREC and IRG Contact Network. At this meeting, too, one of the key topics was the preparation of BEREC’s work programme for 2027. Members discussed future activities in the areas of the regulatory framework, digital markets, the open internet, network infrastructure, cyber security and user protection. Particular attention was paid to aligning the priorities that will shape BEREC’s work in the coming years, particularly in relation to the DNA proposal and rapid technological developments in the field of electronic communications.
During the discussion, AKOS raised the issue of eSIM profile switching. This is a practical area where concrete results could be achieved for the benefit of users and competition in the market. Certain issues relating to SIM and eSIM technologies are currently being addressed primarily within the context of activities linked to the phasing out of 2G and 3G networks; which is why AKOS has called for consideration of their inclusion in BEREC’s future work. Such solutions could contribute to easier switching between providers, greater market competition and a better user experience.
Representatives of national regulatory authorities also discussed several documents which, following further coordination, will be submitted to the BEREC Board of Regulators (BoR) for consideration and approval. These include a draft review of the BEREC guidelines on quality of service parameters, a report comparing competition and regulatory frameworks in EU telecoms markets and other global economies, such as the US and China, and a report on access conditions for networks financed by state aid.
Issues relating to new technologies were also on the agenda. A draft report on the impact of generative AI on the openness of the internet was discussed, which analyses the impact of generative AI on users’ access to online content and their freedom of choice, as well as a draft report on virtual worlds and Web 4.0 and their impact on the electronic communications sector.
Particular attention was paid to the prevention of telecoms fraud. A summary was presented of the BEREC stakeholder workshop on fraud prevention, at which the Working Group on Cybersecurity and Resilience discussed, amongst other things, the misuse of SMS sender identifiers, phishing, smishing, vishing and spoofing.
During the meeting of the IRG (Independent Regulators Group), an important platform for informal cooperation between European electronic communications regulators, members discussed current regulatory issues and the association’s strategic direction. In particular, they reviewed the use of the IRG questionnaire system, which facilitates the rapid exchange of regulatory experience and best practice amongst national regulators; data for the first half of 2026 indicate a high level of participation by member organisations. The IRG will also continue to organise expert workshops and training sessions in areas that are becoming increasingly important for the work of regulators, including artificial intelligence, digital markets, network infrastructure regulation and future legislative changes at European Union level.
