CEO of the Malta Communications Authority (MCA), Jesmond Bugeja, was elected by the Board of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) to act as BEREC Vice-Chair for 2021.

Mr Bugeja welcomed the appointment, saying this is the first time that the MCA and Malta shall be occupying such an esteemed position within BEREC.

“It is a challenge which we face with a high degree of responsibility, commitment, and determination. I consider this appointment as a sign of trust from our European colleagues, in the regulatory work that the Authority is doing, both in the national and international sphere,” he said.

Mr Bugeja has occupied senior executive management positions across diverse industries including ICT, telecommunications and identity management, in both the public service and private sector. He joined the MCA in 2018 and has since been serving as Chief Executive Officer and acting Chairman.

Mr Bugeja will serve as BEREC Vice-Chair for one year, supporting Michel Van Bellinghen from BIPT (Belgium) – the BEREC Chair 2021. Members from the regulatory authorities of Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, and Lichtenstein will compose the rest of the BEREC mini-board next year.

BEREC was established by EU Regulation 2018/1971 with the mission to ensure independent, consistent, high-quality application of the European regulatory framework for electronic communications markets.

For the past 10 years, BEREC has been giving crucial input to the Commission and National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in implementing the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications.

Malta’s Junior Minister for Financial Services and Digital Economy, Clayton Bartolo, commented on the appointment. “I am truly happy that Mr Jesmond Bugeja has been entrusted with the role of Vice-Chair of the BEREC board. This is a certificate of the sterling work being done through MCA, showcasing the capability of our country in the electronic telecommunications sector.”