FAQ

• What is CEPT? 
• What is the CEPT Mission? 
• Who are the CEPT Members? 
• Who can become a member? 
• How to apply for membership? 
• Who else can participate in the work of CEPT? 
• Observers 
• Observers at the Committees 
• Counsellors 
• How is CEPT Structured 
• CEPT Assembly 
• Presidency and Secretariat 
• The Committees 
• The Office 
• Getting information and help from CEPT 
• Job Opportunities within CEPT

What is CEPT?
CEPT is the European regional organisation dealing with postal and telecommunications issues and presently has members from 46 Countries.

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What is the CEPT Mission ?
The basic aim of CEPT is to strengthen the relations between Members, promote their cooperation and contribute to the creation of a dynamic market in the field of European posts and electronic communications. 

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Who are the CEPT Members?
Postal and Telecommunications administrations of the European countries, which are Members of the Universal Postal Union or Member States of the International Telecommunication Union, may be Members of CEPT – see full list under ‘contact points’.

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Who can become a member?
In CEPT there is only one kind of membership and in accordance with the CEPT Arrangement: “Postal and Telecommunications Administrations of the European countries, which are Members of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) or Member States of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), may be Members of CEPT”. 

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How to apply for membership
When a state becomes a Member of UPU or ITU, then its administration can apply for membership, by sending an application to the Presidency of CEPT. The Presidency will then initiate the admission process.

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Who else can participate in the work of CEPT?

Observers
 “Representatives of the permanent Organs of the International Telecommunication Union and the Universal Postal Union shall normally be invited to participate at the meetings of the Assembly as observers. Other relevant intergovernmental organisations may be invited to participate in the meetings of the Assembly as observers when questions of interest to these organisations are being discussed.  Observers may participate in the discussions but have no right to vote”.

Observers at the Committees
“Representatives of organisations having agreed on a MoU or a LoU with either CEPT or the relevant committee are invited to participate to the meetings of Committees and their WG according to the terms of MoUs and LoUs. Members of these organisations can also participate to project teams unless is its decided differently in the terms of reference of the PT.

Counsellors
“The European Commission (EC) and the Secretariat of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are invited to participate in the activities of the Assembly in an advisory capacity, with the right to speak but not to vote”.

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How is CEPT Structured?

CEPT Assembly
The CEPT Assembly is the highest body of CEPT and deals with questions relating to the structure and running of the organisation.
The Assembly can adopt major policy and strategic decisions and recommendations within the postal and electronic communications sectors. 
The Assembly holds meetings when required to discuss and decide issues in the postal and electronic communications sector and resolve problems, which cannot be resolved at a lower level.
The Assembly may further, as appropriate, adopt Cooperation Agreements and issue guidelines for the work of the Committees.

Presidency and Secretariat
A separate Presidency, changing every year, is now replaced by a co-presidency of the three Chairmen currently responsible for the most senior group responsible for each of the areas of work.  The Chairmen of these groups are separately elected under the procedures of the groups concerned.  These Chairmanships are of finite duration.  This Co-Presidency will be assisted by the European Communications Office (ECO) acting as a Secretariat. The ECO prepares Assemblies and ensures the continuity of any CEPT work at the Assembly level [email protected]

The Committees
The Assembly may establish Committees. The Committees deal with questions falling within their responsibilities and the terms of reference as conferred upon them by the Assembly.
There are currently three Committees: one on postal matters, CERP (European Committee on Postal Regulation/Comité européen de réglementation postale) and another on radiocommunications and telecommunications the ECC (Electronic Communications Committee). A third Committee, the Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU).

The Office
The European Communications Office (ECO) is the permanent office to assist CEPT and to support the ECC, the Committee that brings together the radio and telecommunications regulatory authorities of the 46 CEPT member countries.
It provides the secretariat function to the CEPT.

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Getting information and help from CEPT
You can get information and help from CEPT, if what you are seeking falls within the scope of CEPT, by contacting the Office.

If you are looking for specific information on radiocommunications and telecommunications:

• You can contact the Office ([email protected]), or go directly to the ECO website archives as the ECO is responsible for maintaining a record of important CEPT Committee actions and records of the implementation of relevant CEPT Decisions and Recommendations, as well as any other deliverables such as studies and reports;

If you are looking for specific information postal services:

• You can go directly to the CERP website.

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Job Opportunities within CEPT
CEPT is a European organisation composed of administrations responsible for the telecommunications and postal sectors. Its work is essentially built from the cooperation between the participant administrations; accordingly there is no concept of "employee" within the organisation itself.

However an exception would be the ECO Office that supports the CEPT work.

The ECO employs "experts" in the telecommunications area and vacancies for the Office are announced on the Office's website.

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