Britain's experience in regulating key sectors of the economy as they open up to competition will form a major element in a study commissioned by the Spanish Government from the University's energy law centre.
Spanish government commission The study will examine UK and European experience in regulating key industries and produce a manual for regulators in Spanish speaking countries. It will also be the foundation for an ambitious training programme to remedy the "knowledge deficit" in these countries where the opening of new markets is often hindered by an absence of a regulatory culture such as the UK has.
Professor Peter Cameron, multilingual law professor and head of the Centre's European programme, will lead the study, funded by the Spanish National Institute of Public Administration. He notes: "Increasingly, the convergence between the energy, telecommunications and water industries is attracting attention. Electricity and gas companies are applying their business skills to the supply of water and telecommunications services. All of this has consequences for the way they are supervised by government agencies. In many countries there is a "knowledge deficit". Government agencies are being instructed to regulate energy, transport, water and telecommunications. Often, they lack the staff who know how to do the job."
"The UK and the US have led the world in the development of principles for the regulation of key industries. However, in many countries the establishment of effective, independent regulatory agencies will require changes in their existing administrative cultures. We are aiming to give this process a push with the training programme. Every year several dozen regulators will be given intensive training, at the end of which they return to their own countries to implement what they have learned. Normally, there are 60 applicants for every place on offer so only the highest calibre candidates will be selected. The Spanish are keen to take on board the best of the British ideas and to take them further. They intend to do so literally too, by giving them a currency from Mexico to Argentina."
Return to April 2000 Contact
