Dutch economics minister Maxime Verhagen has given further details about plans to install a super regulator by merging several existing authorities including telecoms watchdog OPTA.
In a letter to parliament Verhagen focussed on consumer protection and…
Dutch economics minister Maxime Verhagen has given further details about plans to install a super regulator by merging several existing authorities including telecoms watchdog OPTA.
In a letter to parliament Verhagen focussed on consumer protection and reassured MPs that preparations for implementation by 1 January 2013 are on track. But Verhagen did not give details relating to the future handling of tasks currently conducted by OPTA.
He clarified that the new super regulator will have three main pillars for consumer protection, antitrust and trade regulation.
However, according to a spokesperson for the economics ministry, the precise setup for the third pillar, which will also absorb OPTA, remains unclear at this stage. The ministry is still working out details about how to combine the different regulatory roles for different markets, he said. But significant changes to the way the new body will regulate the telecoms industry are not expected, he said.
The third pillar will take on regulatory tasks for a number of industries, including energy, postal services, and telecoms.
The spokesperson also noted that Chris Fonteijn, currently head of OPTA, is likely to head the super regulator from 2013. At the beginning of July Fonteijn became head of the Dutch antitrust authority NMa, while also keeping his role as head of OPTA.
Minister Verhagen had stated previously that the head of NMa should lead the new super regulator.
