Brussels, 17/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Although European regulators support the European Commission's initiative to set up a single digital market and the emergence of a “connected continent”, which was the aim of the Telecoms Package presented last week (see EUROPE 10917), they fear some market instability. In a press release published on 16 September, the European telecoms authority, BEREC, states it agrees with the need to create optimal conditions for greater investment in the sector but expresses reservations regarding the provisions which, first and foremost, promote consolidation of the market to the detriment of the pro-competitive approach adopted hitherto. BEREC “is concerned that the draft regulation will jeopardise the integrity of the EU framework and its achievements, in terms of investment, competition and consumer benefit”. BEREC also fears the proposals could undermine legal certainty, in contrast with the Commission's own stated objectives of “creating a predictable regulatory environment, essential to the promotion of efficient investment and effective competition”. By way of conclusion, European operators regret that the Commission's initiative was not the subject of prior public consultation and therefore did not benefit from the input of consumers, industry players and national regulators. They remain, nonetheless, ready to share their expertise and to answer any request for information that may be addressed to them in the context of examining the proposal at the level of the Council of Ministers and European Parliament. (IL/transl.jl)