
Article 1 
An advisory group of the independent national regulatory authorities on electronic communications networks and services, called the European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications Networks and Services (hereinafter referred to as the Group), is hereby established.
Article 2 
For the purpose of this Decision: ‘relevant national regulatory authority’ means the public authority established in each Member State to oversee the day-to-day interpretation and application of the provisions of the Directives relating to electronic communications network and services as defined in ‘Framework’ Directive.
Article 3 
The role of the Group shall be to advise and assist the Commission in consolidating the internal market for electronic communications networks and services.
The Group shall provide an interface between national regulatory authorities and the Commission in such a way as to contribute to the development of the internal market and to the consistent application in all Member States of the regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services.
Article 4 
The Group shall be composed of the heads of each relevant national regulatory authority in each Member State or their representatives.
The Commission shall be represented at an appropriate level and shall provide the secretariat to the Group.
Article 5 
At its own initiative or at the Commission's request the Group shall advise and assist the Commission on any matter related to electronic communications networks and services.
The Group shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The work of the group may be organised into subgroups and expert working groups as appropriate.
The chairperson shall convene the meetings of the Group in agreement with the Commission.
The Group shall adopt its rules of procedure by consensus or, in the absence of consensus, by a two-thirds majority vote, one vote being expressed per Member State, subject to the approval of the Commission.
The Commission shall be represented at all meetings of the Group and be able to attend all meetings of its subgroups and expert working groups.
Experts from EEA States and those states that are candidates for accession to the European Union may participate as observers in the Group. The Group may invite other experts and observers to attend its meetings
Article 6 
The Group shall consult extensively and at an early stage with market participants, consumers and end-users in an open and transparent manner.
Article 7 
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 287 of the Treaty, where the Commission informs them that the advice requested or the question raised is of a confidential nature, members of the Group as well as observers and any other person shall be under an obligation not to disclose information which has come to their knowledge through the work of the Group, its subgroups or expert groups. The Commission may decide in such cases that only members of the Group may be present at meetings.
Article 8 
The Group shall submit an annual report of its activities to the Commission. The Commission shall transmit the report to the European Parliament and to the Council, where appropriate with comments.
Article 9 
This Decision shall enter into force the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
The Group shall take up its duties on the date of entry into force of this Decision.
Done at Brussels, 29 July 2002.
For the Commission
Erkki LIIKANEN
Member of the Commission