Connecting the world and beyond

ITU-EKIP Regional Regulatory Forum for Europe 2026

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Office for Europe and the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services of Montenegro (EKIP) are pleased to announce the ITU-EKIP Regional Regulatory Forum for Europe 2026 will be held in Budva, Montenegro, on 28 and 29 September 2026. This year's forum will focus on "From global principles to regional practice: Shaping digital markets that deliver”.

The Regional Forum will build upon the outcomes of the Global Symposium for Regulators 2026 (GSR-26) and its Best Practice Guidelines, and it will be held within the framework of the ITU Regional Initiative for Europe on Digital Infrastructure Development. The Forum will provide a unique opportunity for high-level dialogues between stakeholders on strategies and policies to strengthen the digital ecosystem of the Europe Region in the field of emerging regulatory trends, universal and meaningful connectivity, resilient infrastructures, deployment of digital infrastructures, and investments in the digital sector. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss future actions related to digital regulation to be carried out at the regional and global level. A special highlight of the Forum will be the in-depth presentation of newly released ITU tools that are offered to the Member States, i.e. Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP) and the Global Economic Model and Study (GEMS) tool.

This event also provides an opportunity to establish specific actions to support countries in regulatory matters.

Representatives of National Regulatory Authorities from the Europe Region, Ministries, Operators of Electronic Communications, Academia as well as representatives and experts of international organizations and institutions in charge of the regulation and development policy of electronic communications are invited to take part in this Forum.

The Forum will be conducted in English and Montenegrin with simultaneous interpretation in both languages.

Participants who require an entry visa to Montenegro should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Montenegro for assistance well in advance. A list of embassies and consulates of Montenegro can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gov.me/en/diplomatic-missions/embassies-and-consulates-of-montenegro.

draft agenda

Sunday, 27 September

15:00-20:00	Registration
20:30	Welcome dinner

Monday, 28 September

09:00-09:30	Registration
09:30-11:00	Opening segment – Anticipating change: Are Europe’s regulators ready for what comes next? This high-level opening segment will invite officials to look beyond immediate developments and reflect on the emerging challenges for which their institutions are preparing. It will set the strategic direction for the Forum around anticipation, adaptability and institutional readiness. The session will address: Emerging technologies and market shifts likely to reshape regulatory priorities. Readiness of regulatory mandates, supervisory models and organisational structures. Expertise and foresight capabilities needed to anticipate change. Evolving expectations from citizens and businesses and their implications for regulators. Special Address Mr. Nik GJELOSHAJ, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development of Montenegro Dr. Cosmas Luckyson ZAVAZAVA, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau Dr. Milan B. RADULOVIC, President of the Council, EKIP, Montenegro Opening remarks Mr. Jaroslaw K. PONDER, Head of the ITU Office for Europe Mr. Tonko OBULJEN, President of the Board, HAKOM, Croatia Mr. Goga GULORDAVA, Chairman, ComCom, Georgia Mr. Péter VÁRI, Deputy Director-General, NMHH, Hungary Mr. Elvis BABAČIĆ, Acting Director, EKIP, Montenegro Mr. Admirim ALITI, Board Member, AEC, North Macedonia Ms. Mira STEVANOVIĆ, Member of the Council, RATEL, Serbia
11:00-11:30	Group photo and coffee break
11:30-13:00	Session 1 – Strengthening regulatory coherence across institutions and borders Digital markets increasingly cut across institutional mandates, sectors and jurisdictions. Building on the outcomes of GSR-26 and its Best Practice Guidelines, this session will explore how national authorities, regional organisations and international partners can strengthen coordination, and support more coherent regulatory approaches across European markets. The session will address: Applying the outcomes of GSR-26 and its Best Practice Guidelines in the regional contexts. Coordination among authorities with intersecting or complementary mandates. Cross-border cooperation, information-sharing, peer learning and capacity-building. Addressing regulatory gaps and overlaps while supporting greater consistency across EU Member States, candidate countries and neighbouring markets. Setting the scene: Mr. Marko MIŠMAŠ, BEREC Chair 2026, Director of the AKOS, Slovenia presentation Mr. Jaroslaw K. PONDER, Head of the ITU Office for Europe presentation Speakers: Mr. Tonko OBULJEN, BEREC Vice-Chair 2025 & BEREC Chair 2024 / President of the Board, HAKOM, Croatia Ms. Ekaterine IMEDADZE, EaPeReg Representative / Commissioner, ComCom, Georgia Mr. Stefan LECHLER, Deputy Head of Electronic Communications Policy Unit, DG Connect, European Commission Ms. Merilin KASESALU, Senior Analyst, Cullen International Ms. Milena JOCIĆ TANASKOVIĆ, Expert on Digital Connectivity, RCC
13:00-14:00	Lunch break
14:00-15:00	Session 2 – Defining what digital markets should deliver Effective regulation starts with a clear understanding of the public-interest outcomes digital markets are expected to deliver. This session will consider how regulators set, balance and revisit these priorities in response to national circumstances and evolving market needs. The session will address: Meaningful connectivity, affordability and accessibility. Service quality, resilience and consumer trust. Effective competition and sustainable market outcomes. Translating public-interest outcomes into regulatory objectives, strategies and instruments, and adjusting them as markets evolve. Moderator: Dr. Milan B. RADULOVIC, President of the Council, EKIP, Montenegro Speakers: Mr. Ahmed EL-RAGHY, Head of Regulatory and Market Environment Division, ITU “From Ambition to Implementation: Using GEMS to Unlock the Socio-Economic Value of Connectivity” presentation Mr. Iñigo HERGUERA, Professor, Department of Economic Analysis and Quantitative Economics, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain “Measurement and Quality of Service in the context of Universal Meaningful Connectivity Framework” presentation Mrs. Marija LUKIĆ, Chief Advisor for Relevant Markets and Roaming Services Regulation and Mrs. Katarina MANDIĆ, Senior Expert Advisor for Relevant Markets and Roaming Services Regulation, RATEL, Serbia “From Remedy to Market: Rethinking the Regulatory Approach to Physical Infrastructure Access" presentation Mr. Enes DAYAN, ICT Expert, BTK, Turkiye "Mechanisms for Protecting Consumer Rights: Transparency and Consumer Complaints" presentation
15:00-15:30	Coffee break
15:30-16:55	Session 3 – Seeing the market clearly: data, evidence and smarter regulatory oversight Regulators need credible and timely evidence to understand whether digital markets are delivering and where intervention may be required. This session will focus on the monitoring, measurement and analytical tools that support evidence-based regulatory decision-making. The session will address: Quality-of-service and quality-of-experience indicators and measurement. Infrastructure and service mapping, data verification and the use of multiple evidence sources. Regulatory dashboards, advanced analytics and AI-assisted monitoring. Proportionate evidence and reporting systems that strengthen oversight without creating unnecessary burden. Moderator: Mr. Pavle MIJUSKOVIC, Deputy Director, Department for Electronic Communications Networks and Services, EKIP, Montenegro Speakers: Ms. Karla KLEMENČIČ, GIS expert, AKOS, Slovenia “From Simulation to Reality: Measuring Mobile Network Coverage Along Slovenia's Railway Network” presentation Mr. Boris ARSOV, Head of Telecommunications Department, AEC, North Macedonia “Measurements of Internet QoS in Fixed Networks in Macedonia” presentation Ms. Elma AVDIC, Expert Advisor, Section for Radiocommunications, RAK, Bosnia and Herzegovina “Digitalising RF Licensing Processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina: From Electronic Documents to a Digital Regulatory Workflow” presentation Mr. Zoran KOREČIĆ, Regional Director Growth - Europe & CIS, Omobio Connect, Inc “From Telecom Data to Regulatory Intelligence: How Technology Can Enable Smarter, Proportionate Market Monitoring” presentation Mr. Erkan GÜNAYDIN, Project Manager, Aselsan “Aselsan’s spectrum monitoring systems” presentation* video*
16:30- 17:00	Technical break
17:00-18:00	Special session – GEMS in practice: measuring the socio-economic value of connectivity investment This practical session will demonstrate how GEMS can help regulators and policymakers assess the wider economic and social value of connectivity investments. It will show how infrastructure scenarios can be translated into evidence on expected impact, investment returns and policy priorities, supporting better-informed decisions and dialogue with governments, industry and financing partners. Speaker: Mr. Ahmed EL-RAGHY, Head of Regulatory and Market Environment Division, ITU presentation
20:30	Gala dinner

Tuesday, 29 September

08:00-09:00	Special session – CPP in practice: turning connectivity data into investment priorities This practical session will demonstrate how the Connectivity Planning Platform can support the design and prioritization of connectivity interventions. The session may show how regulators and policymakers can assess infrastructure gaps, compare deployment scenarios and use data to inform broadband strategies, funding decisions and investment planning. Participants could reflect on the applicability of the platform in the European context and on how it could complement existing regulatory and public-investment tools. Moderator: Mr. Marco Obiso, Chief, Digital Networks and environment, ITU Speakers: Mr. Sebastien Peytrignet, Project Officer, Future Networks & Spectrum Management Division, ITU Ms. Zohra YERMECHE, Global Head of Social Impact, Ericsson Mr. Archil BERISHVILI, Chief Specialist of Infrastructure and Networks, ComCom, Georgia
09:00-09:10	Technical break
09:10-10:30	Session 4 – Adapting regulation to new markets, actors and risk Future mobile networks, non-terrestrial connectivity, data centres, cloud infrastructure and other emerging digital services are bringing new actors, business models and risks into regulated markets. This session will consider how regulatory tools can evolve to enable investment and innovation while responding effectively to these changes. The session will address: Regulatory approaches to future mobile networks, non-terrestrial connectivity, data centres, cloud infrastructure and other emerging digital services. Spectrum, licensing and infrastructure-sharing approaches that enable new technologies and deployment models. Regulatory incentives and obligations suited to evolving business models and risk profiles. Adaptive mechanisms such as sandboxes, pilot authorisations, phased implementation and review processes. Moderator: Mr. Ahmed EL-RAGHY, Head of Regulatory and Market Environment Division, ITU Speakers: Mr. Thomas WELTER, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Orbit/Spectrum Resources, ANFR, France “Rising challenges in radio frequency and orbital resource management" presentation Mr. Nedžad EMINAGIĆ, Head of Department for Networks and Services, RAK, Bosnia and Herzegovina “Cross-Border Provision of Electronic Communications Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Regulatory challenges arising from satellite connectivity, eSIM-based services and foreign mobile profiles" presentation Mr. Andrej CIGLIČ, Head of Spectrum Management, AKOS, Slovenia “Regulatory and Spectrum Strategy for Mission-Critical Mobile Networks in Slovenia: The Sub-700 MHz and 400 MHz Band" presentation Mr. Péter VÁRI, Deputy Director General, and Mr. Vörös ÁDÁM, Head of Frequency Planning and Coordination Unit, NMHH, Hungary “PNT service" presentation Ms. Milica MIRKOVIĆ BOSNIĆ, Head of Electronic Communications User Protection, RATEL, Serbia “AI-Enabled End-User Protection: From Individual Complaints to Smarter Regulation" presentation**
10:30-11:00	Coffee break
11:00-12:30	Session 5 - Effective supervision and consumer protection Panel: “Unilateral Changes to Contractual Terms by Providers – End-User Rights and Regulatory Measures” The discussion will focus on unilateral changes to contractual terms, particularly in-contract price increases and bundled offers, and will address the following questions: What are the main reasons and justifications for price increases and other unilateral changes to contractual terms? Can regulators act before announced changes take effect and assess their justification? Is the right to terminate a contract without additional costs an effective remedy, particularly where several providers introduce similar price increases for comparable bundles? What additional regulatory measures may be appropriate where termination rights and switching are not sufficient? Moderator: Ms. Jelena SAVIĆ, Member of the Council, EKIP, Montenegro Speakers: Ms. Indre JURGELIONIENE, Co-Chair of the BEREC End-User Working Group Ms. Gordana PAVLOVIC, Senior Adviser for Electronic Communications Consumer Protection, RATEL, Serbia Ms. Brina BONELLI NOVAK, Head of the Legal Department, AKOS, Slovenia Ms. Gordana KULIŠIĆ, Senior Expert in Electronic Communications User Protection, HAKOM, Croatia Ms. Renata AINOVSKA TALEVSKA, Head of the User Rights Protection Department, AEC, North Macedonia Ms. Danka MILIĆEVIĆ, Assistant Executive Director and Head of Legal Affairs Sector, EKIP, Montenegro
12:30-12:40	Technical break
12:40-13:00	Closing ceremony
15:00- 21:00	Cruise in the bay of Kotor Departure by bus is organized at 14:00