For immediate release
Com-ITU sets out European concerns as WCIT 2012 concludes
Copenhagen, 21 December 2012 – The Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU) of the
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) has today
published a statement on the outcomes of the ITU’s World Conference on International
Telecommunications (WCIT 12), which took place from 3-14 December in Dubai, for Europe.
WCIT Outcomes
In advance of the conference, Com-ITU worked hard to develop European Common
Proposals (ECPs - http://www.cept.org/com-itu/deliverables) on changes to the International
Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) which were based on a set of guiding principles that
were objective, balanced and had a legal basis.
The aim of these principles was to foster continued development of international
telecommunications services, without overburdening the telecommunications sector with
unnecessary and intrusive regulation.
As a result of extensive dialogue and negotiations, the delegations of the CEPT's 48
member states worked together to delete the most controversial proposals in the treaty
including the introduction of internet and internet-related language, dealing with routing,
spam and cyber security. Despite these efforts, some additional provisions were added to
the final text (e.g. article 1.1. on the scope of ITRs, article 5A on Security and Robustness of
Networks and article 5B on Unsolicited Bulk Electronic Communications) which the majority
of CEPT member states felt unable to accept as they were considered to be insufficiently
clear and open to misinterpretation of the treaty and in consequence lead to bigger
governmental control over international telecommunications services.
For these reasons the following CEPT member states decided not to sign the treaty:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The following CEPT member states did not share these concerns and decided to sign the
ITRs:
Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine.
In total, 89 ITU member states signed the treaty and 55 decided not to do so.
Next steps
The new ITRs come into effect on 1 January 2015. Until then, the existing version is
applicable. However, since a large number of member states did not sign the treaty, there is
legal uncertainty about what will happen after 2015. The legal analysis is being undertaken
at national and international level. Some possible solutions will be discussed at future ComITU meetings.
A copy of the final acts of the Conference is available at http://www.itu.int/en/wcit12/Documents/final-acts-wcit-12.pdf.
Ends
Notes to Editors
1.
The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) concluded in
Dubai on 14 December 2012. The Conference was attended by over 1600 delegates from
151 ITU Member States representing private and public sector interests. The purpose of the
Conference was to update a binding global treaty on technical standards for
telecommunications (commonly known as the International Telecommunications Regulations
or ITRs) designed to facilitate international interconnection and interoperability of information
and communication services, as well as ensuring their efficiency and widespread public
usefulness and availability. The ITRs have not been updated since 1988, a time preceding
widespread availability of the Internet and liberalisation of the telecoms markets.
2. The Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU) of the European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) is responsible for organising CEPT’s
engagement with the ITU across many activities, including the ITU's Plenipotentiary
Conferences and its World Conference on International Telecommunications. More
information is available from our website: www.cept.org/com-itu.
3. CEPT is an organisation where policy makers and regulators from 48 countries across
Europe collaborate to harmonise telecommunication, radio spectrum, and postal regulations
to improve efficiency and co-ordination for the benefit of European society.
4. Com-ITU is supported by CEPT's Secretariat office, the European Communications
Office (ECO), which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. More information is available at:
www.cept.org/eco.
Contact:
Marcin Krasuski
Com-ITU Chairman
marcin.krasuski@mac.gov.pl