Madame Christine Lagarde, the French Finance Minister, gives a speech at the inauguration of the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel (ACP – Prudential Control Authority), implemented by the Ordinance of 21 January 2010, in which she explains the philosophy behind the ACP’s activities. Stability and solidity of the international financial system and consumer protection are the ACP’s main responsabilities.
The contract is the main natural and legal instrument of the competitive market. It seems foreign to the regulatory system which, close to the "regulation" (texts) seems more express itself in administrative unilateral acts.
But this division is fading because the contract is an effective tool because it makes gained acceptance recipient of the norm, becoming the preferred instrument of public policy. The Regulator will use it the more so as on the one hand by the contract operators bring him information and on the other hand, operators have the power to disobey him. That is why the contract is a major figure in the Regulatory system.
The self-regulation mechanism goes further, since the Regulatory system itself is built on contractual commitments, exempting exogenous rules and regulator.
The British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced on September 1st, 2010 a revision to the Committee of Advertising Practice Code (the CAP Code), in order to handle consumer complaints and sanction non-compliant advertising on British websites. These new rules will be effective from March 1st 2011.
FRANCAIS
Le British Advertising Standards Authorithy (ASA — organisme britannique d'autorégulation de la publicité) a annoncé le 1er septembre 2010 une révision au Committee of Advertising Practice Code (The CAP Code — le Code des bonnes pratiques dans la publicité), afin de pouvoir répondre aux plaintes des consommateurs relatives aux publicités non-conformes sur les sites Internet britanniques, et de les sanctionner. Ces nouvelles règles entreront en vigueur le 1er mars 2011.
GERMAN
Die British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA - die britische Selbstregulierungsbehörde für die Werbebranche) hat am 1. September 2010 verkündigt, dass der Committee of Advertising Practice Code (the CAP Code - die Richtlinien für Qualitätsregeln in der Werbewirtschaft) so verändert wird, dass er für das Empfängnis und die Behandlung von Verbrauchersklagen gegen Internet-Werbungen zuständig wird. Diese Regel wird erst am 1. März 2011 im Kraft treten.
SPANISH
El British Advertising Standards Authority (la Autoridad británica de la autorregulación publicitaria) extiendo el CAP Code (el código des buenas prácticas publicitarias) para cubrir las publicidades que se encuentran en sitios de web británicos
El British Advertising Standards Authority (la Autoridad británica de la autorregulación publicitaria) anunció el 1 de septiembre 2010 una revisión al Committee of Advertising Practice Code (the CAP Code – el código des buenas prácticas publicitarias), para poder responder a las quejas y sanciones sobre las prácticas publicatarias no-conformes sobre los sitios de web británicos. Estas nuevas reglas entrarán en vigor el primero de marzo del 2011.
The Journal of Regulation’s annual symposium on March 17, 2011 examined the theme of Neutrality in systems of economic regulation. After preliminaries on the definition of neutrality and neutral action, which were the common theme linking all speakers’ contributions, the first part of the colloquium explored the general aspects of neutrality in regulated industries, such as the neutrality of standards or the relationship between neutrality and legal categories, impact studies, or procedural techniques. The second part of this event raised more specific points, such as the interference between neutrality and the globalization of regulated industries, the question of regulators’ neutrality, and of net neutrality that some regulators wish to raise to the level of a general principle.
SPANISH
Informe bibliográfico (Simposio): La neutralidad en los sistemas de regulación económica
El simposio anual de la Revista de Regulación que se llevó a cabo el 17 de marzo del 2011 examinó el tema de Neutralidad en sistemas económicos de regulación. Después de algunos preliminares sobre la definición de la neutralidad y la acción neutral, los cuales fueron temas comunes en las contribuciones de los diferentes actores presentes, la primera parte del coloquio exploró los aspectos generales de la neutralidad en las industrias reguladas, como la neutralidad de los estándares o la relación entre la neutralidad y las categorías legales, estudios de impacto, o técnicas de procedimiento. La segunda parte del evento alzó cuestiones específicas, como la interferencia entra la neutralidad y la globalización de industrias reguladas, la cuestión de la neutralidad de diferentes reguladores y la neutralidad de la red, lo cual algunos quieren alzar a nivel de principio general.
In Senegal, the Autorité de régulation des télécommunications et des postes (ARTP ; English translation: Telecommunications and Posts Regulatory Authority) has, just like all regulators, inherent powers to impose sanctions. In general, the important thing is not only to exercise this sanctioning power but to exercise it in a way that reinforces the authority of the Regulator. In this perspective, the new Sonatel sanction decision is important.
As a sanctions always carry a heavier weight when people are made aware of it, the Director General of the Artp issued a press release, that has been flagged as particularly important, and held a press conference (in French) on a particularly serious sanction imposed following what the Regulator considers as the non-fulfilment of obligations stemming from formal notices (which, by the way, the telecom operator challenges on the merits).
On 21 November 2014 indeed, the Sonatel was given a formal notice from the Artp to respect consumer rights. As the code of telecommunications provides since its modification in 2014, operators shall "prendre les mesures appropriées de dimensionnement de leurs réseaux de nature à garantir à leurs clients un accès ininterrompu à leur service client commercial ou technique en respectant un taux d’efficacité minimal" (translation: "take appropriate measures to size their networks in a way that provides their consumers with an uninterrupted access to their customer service (sales service and technical support) which would respect a minimum efficiency rate") set by the Regulator itself- as to, namely, ensure that the right of consumers to be informed is satisfied (as regards billing mechanisms) and that their calls to consumer services remain free of charge. As the Regulator estimated that the Sonatel was not complying with such regulations, it conducted a formal investigation and notified a statement of objections to the operator, before sending on 28 January 2015 a second formal notice for the same reasons.
On 14 July 2016, the Regulator imposed a sanction on Sonatel since the it still estimated that the operator's behavior still was not leading to a compliant situation as regards the consumer right to be informed. The sanction, as stated in the Sonatel decision, is 13 billion 959 million FCfa (c. €20m), i.e., 15% of Sonatel's 2015 turnover. The sanction decision also provides that if the operator does not enforce it, an additional penalty of 10m FCfa (c. €15,000) per day will be charged.
The operator, however, challenges this sanction insofar as it estimates that its behavior is not to be blamed. To support its claim, Sonatel avails itself from the fact that upon reception of the first formal notice, it undertook a 'progressive compliance' with the requirements process as regards its network, then let the Regulator know about it, etc. It is henceforth to lodge an appeal.
The issue at stake, therefore, is to know whether the obligations on operators are obligations regarding the means used (that is to say, means obligations), or, conversely, if they are obligations to produce results (performance obligations). If they are means obligations, then the operator is right. However, considering the efficiency and effectivity principes that are closely linked with the teleological nature of Regulation, it is more likely that such obligations are performance obligations.
For instance, in France, the Commission Informatiques et Libertés (French Data Protection Authority- CNIL) considered on 1 March 2016!footnote-42 that the obligations on operators to have accurate and complete data are performance obligations and not mere means obligations.
Thus, there is probably more to follow with this Sonatel decision. The day the press release was issued, the operator stated it intended to lodge a hierarchical appeal before the Minister.
The next day, the Director General of the Artp stated in the press (in French) that under the Senegal law, the appeal could only be lodged before a jurisdiction, or before... the Regulatory Authority itself (request for reconsideration - in French : "recours gracieux").
This situation is thus a great reminder that new illustrations of the interplays between Regulation and Politics can always be found.
Marie-Anne Frison-Roche, agrégée des facultés de droit and Docteur d'Etat, has held the position of Tenured Professor at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). (...)
On November 15, 2010, the Autorité de la Concurrence (the French Competition Authority) hosted a meeting on the theme of online gambling and the opening of the market to competition. The first debate concerned sports federations and betting rights.
FRENCH
Rapport bibliographique (Symposium): Symposium de l'Autorité de la Concurrence sur la régulation des jeux en ligne.
Le 15 novembre 2010, l'Autorité de la Concurrence a organisé un colloque sur le thème de la régulation des jeux en lignes et l'ouverture du marché à la concurrence. Le premier débat concernait les fédérations sportives et le droit au pari.
GERMAN
Bibliographischer Bericht (Symposium): Symposium der französischen Wettbewerbsbehörde über die Regulierung von Online-Wetten.
Am 15. November 2010 hat die Autorité de Concurrence (die französische Wettberwerbsbehörde) ein Symposium über die Regulierung von Online-Wetten und die Wettbewerseröffnung dieses Marktes veranstaltert. Im ersten Gespräch wurde das Thema Sportverbände und Wetterecht behandelt.
ITALIAN
Relazione bibliografica (Convegno): Il convegno dell’Autorità francese garante della concorrenza sulla regolazione delle scommesse on-line.
Il 15 novembre 2010, la Autorité de Concurrence (la Autorità francese garante della concorrenza) ospiterà un convegno sul tema delle scommesse on-line dell’apertura del mercato alla libera concorrenza. Il dibattito porterà sulle federazioni sportive e sul diritto a scommettere.
SPANISH
Informe bibliográfico (Simposio): El Simposio francés de la Autoridad de la competencia sobre la regulación del juego en la red.
El 15 de noviembre del 2010, la Autorité de la Concurrence (la Autoridad francesa de la competencia) organizó una reunión sobre el tema del juego en la red y el abrimiento de este mercado a la competencia. El primer debate se centraba en las federaciones deportivas y los derechos de juego.
CHINESE
书目报告（专题论丛）：法国竞争监管机构对于网络游戏监管的讨论。
2010年11月15日，Autorité de la Concurrence（法国反垄断机构竞争事务监察总署）举办了一场以网络游戏监管及开放市场竞争为主题的研讨会。第一期讨论内容涉及与体育协会和赌博活动及其相关权利。
On the 16 september 2011, the German Land of Schleswig-Holstein is the first in Germany to implement a law on online gambling, which appears to be one of the most modern and liberal in Europe.
FRENCH
Le 16 septembre2011,le land allemand deSchleswig-Holsteinest lepremier en Allemagne àappliquer une loi surles jeux en ligne, qui semble êtrel’une des plusmoderneset des plus libéralesen Europe.
SPANISH
Informe Temático (el Juego): El Land of Schleswig-Holstein alemán implementa una nueva ley sobre el juego en la red.
El 16 de septiembre del 2011, el Land of Schleswig-Holstein alemán es el primero en Alemania de implementar una ley sobre el juego en la red, lo cual aparenta ser una de los más modernos y liberales en Europa.
On June 27, 2012, the "Financial Securities Authority – FSA" of the United Kingdom sanctioned the Barclays Bank to have manipulated the Libor. By a chain reaction, on July 6, 2012, the German regulator, Bafin, opened an investigation into banks, with no doubt on Deutsche Bank, while the Japanese regulator, the "Securities Exchange Commission" in the United States, the Canadian competition office, in particular open all investigations since the 6 July concerning all banks within their competence on their statements. In addition, JP Morgan said that it was already the subject of a class action in this regard. The domino effect begins.
On 6 June 2012, the European Commission has extended the authorization given to France, Belgium and Luxembourg to bring their State guaranty to Dexia Bank SA and DLC. Further, the Commission agreed to raise the ceiling of the guaranty, joint but non several, of EUR 15 billion which brings the ceiling allowed to EUR 55 billion. But the permission is only until September 30. This might coincide with the time where the Commission will take a position on the plan of "orderly resolution" of this systemic bank. It justifies its flexibility itself in its exemption from the prohibition of State aids, by the fact that it is a systemic bank and that a resolution plan will be submitted soon, but it raises in advance competition problems.This justifies all the more draft texts on the mechanisms which must be specific to the systemic failing financial institutions.
