EMERG
EMERG had been announced in July 2008 as the outcome of the end of the NATP-II project (New Approaches to Telecommunications Policies – second phase) in June 2008. Founder countries, which are 15 Euro-Mediterranean countries, are very looking forward to reap the benefits of the EMERG. The European enthusiasm towards the network as well is seen as a point of strength that would help the EMERG to follow the successful steps of the BEREC (the ERG at the time of EMERG establishment).
This is why in late 2009 the NATP-3 project was launched to basically designate funding for EMERG activities. On the other hand, while currently struggling with the continuation of funding for EMERG with Brussels foreseeing the approach of the end of the NATP-3 project, member countries are hoping that the multilateral framework suggested by EMERG would nevertheless fill the void created by the termination of the third NATP project eventually leading them towards further liberalization, and more profound exposure to international best practice in various ICT issues and bottlenecks that evolve in a technologically dynamic world. In 2011, Plenary of EMERG took place in Rome as Italy was the chair of EMERG during the 2011 year's term, while Egypt, represented in NTRA was voted as the Vice Chair of EMERG (i.e. the Chair of EMERG in the period of 2012-2013).
Accordingly, the latest EMERG plenary is to be held in Cairo on the 13-14th of March in which a new EMERG strategy and a draft Charter will be voted upon in an initiative to prove EMERG's independence, and hence, gain further negotiation power with Brussels over the funding issue. It's noteworthy that NTRA had actively participated in most of EMERG's activities and workshops, especially being one of the key founding members of the network.
