The EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications: Relevance and Efficiency Three Years Later

Abstract: In 2002 the European Union implemented a new regulatory framework to oversee electronic communications services and networks across Europe. Three years down the line, the multiplicity of players and the quasi-contractualisation of their relations through the Framework Directive have complicated European regulatory governance structure. Is the implementation of the new regulatory framework relevant and efficient? This paper uses transaction costs to try and find an answer to this question. Key words: Regulatory governance structure, transaction costs and temporal specificity. hree years ago the European Union implemented a new regulatory framework to regulate electronic communications services and networks across Europe. However, the multiplicity of players and the quasi-contractualisation of their relations through the Framework Directive have complicated European regulatory governance structure. Is the implementation of the new regulatory framework relevant and efficient? This question relates to the debate that followed the implementation of the new European regulatory framework for electronic communication