Minister Rossen Jeliazkov: I will personally commit myself to updating of electronic communications legislation

Within two years, Bulgarian legislation needs to be updated with the texts of the new European Code for Electronic Communications and I personally commit myself to this, said Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov. He participated in the Annual Conference of the Bulgarian Association of Cable and Communication Operators and took part in the discussion of the draft Code of Ethics for Consumer Telecommunication Services. Minister Jeliazkov stressed that the European Code is expected to be published in the EU Official Journal at the end of the year. In his words, the document guarantees fairness, competition, unification of practices and protection of consumer rights.

Stricter rules, set in the new legal framework, will facilitate switching of service providers and number portability, the Minister said. He added that it is intended to provide detailed information on the terms of the contract prior to its conclusion. "Including an obligation for operators to present a brief and easily readable summary of the essential terms of the contract", said Minister Rossen Jeliazkov. With regard to the accounts, he stressed that there would be a requirement to be detailed and clear, as well as giving users the opportunity to control their expenditure. Greater transparency of tariffs will be promoted, including by providing comparisons of contractual offers in terms of costs and quality of service.

Minister Jeliazkov also said that the Code of Ethics discussed for relations with consumers of telecommunication services is an expression of self-regulation of operators and is the best understanding of the needs of the sector.