The Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities Network of Mediterranean met in Naples on 20 and 21 July 2000.

This is the fourth meeting of the Network since its inception, after Barcelona (1997), Athens (1998) and Lisbon (1999) meetings.

The Network was established in 1997 by the French (CSA), the Catalan (CAC), the Portuguese (AACS), the Italian (AGCOM), and the Greek (CNRTV) Regulatory Authorities.

On the occasion of the meeting in Naples, the authorities of Cyprus (Cyprus Radio -Television Authority – CRTA), of Malta (Broadcasting Authority of Malta – BAM) and of Turkey (Radio and Television Supreme Council – RTÜK) have joined the Network. Moreover, the President of the Israeli Authority (Council for Cable TV and Satellite Broadcasting – CCTSB) and the representative of the Spanish Telecommunications Authority (Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones – CMT) participated for the first time in the works as observers.

Network members mainly discussed two topics:

  • The sanctioning powers of regulators. Experience shows that a system of sanctions is necessary to any regulation. But despite the wide range of legal means available to all authorities (administrative sanctions, financial sanctions, releases read on the air …), the authorities are agreed that they prefer to give priority to dialogue and mediation;
  • The introduction of digital terrestrial television. Although most of the Mediterranean countries are only at the beginning of their experience in this sector, the debate raised two common questions: the concentration of editorial and technical activities on the one hand and the delicate competition with cable and satellite on the other hand.

On expiry of the term of President Enzo Cheli (AGCOM, Italy), the Network of Mediterranean countries regulatory bodies elected its new President for a term of one year: Mr Joseph PIROTTA, Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority of Malta.

The Network also decided to strengthen its permanent secretariat, integrating, alongside the French CSA responsible for coordinating, the Catalan (CAC) and Cypriot (CRTA) authorities.

Finally, it was decided that the next meeting of the Network will be held in Valletta (Malta) in May 2001.