As the recent pandemic showed, the modern world fully relies on the good functioning of the electronic communication sector. Communication plays an important part these days for individuals, businesses, public authorities, and the implementation of 5G technology will create the premises for enhancing the way society uses and benefits from the electronic communication sector.
However, it is said that the implementation of 5G technology comes with its own risks. Currently, the European Union Member States are analyzing the measures to be adopted with a view to mitigating such risks. One important risk is closely related to ensuring the protection of national security, and in this respect certain strategic measures are envisaged in accordance with the 5G EU Toolbox.
Undoubtedly, States have a legitimate and sovereign interest to issue enactments intended to protect the national security from adverse foreign actions. However, measures taken in this respect should not be at odds with the rule of law (including without being limited to the observance of national constitutions and of the EU legislation), human rights and freedoms and obligations under international treaties and conventions.
Electronic communication providers and equipment suppliers have agreements in place that cover the equipment already purchased, ordered or contracted (e.g., based on a promise to purchase) for the purposes of the 4G network (the “Existing Equipment”).
It is also envisaged that such equipment will be used in the deployment of 5G networks. In case electronic communication providers were prohibited to purchase equipment from certain suppliers for 5G network purposes, they may no longer be able to use the Existing Equipment to that effect.
In case the relevant prohibition infringed national, European or international law (and there are multiple sources warning against such potential infringement as a result of the implementation of the so-called “strategic measures”), claims for compensation from mobile operators and equipment suppliers might potentially ensue.
This article provides a preliminary overview of some of the potential types of compensation that might be sought in such a case pursuant to Romanian law and the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”) and related practice of the European Court of Human Rights (“ECHR Court”).
Types of compensation under Romanian law
1. Tortious liability claim against Romania
In case the restrictions that would be adopted by Romania would infringe national, European or international law, mobile operators could well be entitled to seek compensation by submitting tortious liability claims against Romania (“Tortious Claim”).
The compensation claims could for instance refer to damages incurred by the mobile operators as a result of contractual claims that might be filed by equipment supplier as a result of the inability of the mobile operators to perform further to the potential restrictions.
Should such contractual claims be upheld by the relevant courts, the mobile operators may be compelled to pay compensation for damages. The mobile operators may then seek to recover those amounts from Romania, including interest, the inflation indexation and litigation expenses.
Even assuming there will be no contractual claims from equipment suppliers (either because these would not be possible or because equipment suppliers would simply decide not to pursue mobile operators), the mobile operators may still decide to seek from Romania compensation for tortious liability.
Such compensation may for example refer to the following: (i) the amounts paid by mobile operators for already purchased equipment they could no longer use, (ii) the price difference between the equipment to be purchased from a new supplier and the one that could have been provided by the initial supplier, (iii) any additional amounts that would be incurred as compared to a scenario where the initial equipment could be used or purchased (e.g. higher maintenance costs, higher personnel training fees, etc.) and (iv) loss of business occurred, for example, as a result of higher prices to customers due to higher costs.
2. Indirect expropriation
Indirect expropriation is another potential cause of action based on which mobile operators could potentially seek compensation under Romanian law for the value of the business lost or the significant decrease of the business value as a result of the impossibility to use already purchased 4G equipment.
As it has transpired in the media, it can be reasonably assumed that such restriction would trigger tremendous additional costs and delays for deploying 5G networks, which could in turn lead to mobile operators being forced to exit the market or to lose a substantial share thereof.
This could be seen as a downright expropriation of the mobile operators’ business, as a result of legislative measures.
However, according to Article 44 paragraph 3 of the Romanian Constitution “No one can be expropriated unless for a public utility reason, declared as such by law, subject to equitable and prior compensation”. The Romanian Constitution makes no distinction regarding the type or object of the expropriation. And although at present there are no laws regulating in detail the procedures for claiming compensation in such cases (unlike the cases where the expropriation concerns immovable assets), the ECHR Court practice makes it clear that indirect expropriation (i.e., loss of an asset or business or significant decrease of the value thereof due to State measures) requires compensation just like direct expropriation (when the State takes over the relevant asset or business).
As ECHR provisions prevail over the national legislation and even over the provisions of the Romanian Constitution, one could argue that compensation for indirect expropriation should be awarded in Romania also where, for instance, the value of business was substantially diminished or the authorization to carry out a certain economic activity has been withdrawn. Compensation for indirect expropriation can be thus sought where the business loss was so drastic that it can be assimilated with an actual seizure thereof.
Conversely, it can be argued that businesses are to act on the market only in accordance with and within the limits of the applicable legislation, there being Romania’s sovereign right to issue legislation (so that any losses incurred due to legislation being adopted would be merely seen as a business risk ). However, international law provides certain limitations and compensation mechanisms arising from a State’s sovereign right to enact legislation, to the extent that the latter infringes certain fundamental principles.
Claims under the ECHR
It is well established that the ECHR Court awards compensation for damages resulting from violations of the ECHR. This happens when the claimant fails in its attempts before the national courts.
Hence, should mobile operators seek compensation before Romanian courts due for instance to indirect expropriation or other infringements of the ECHR (such as discrimination, e.g. as compared to mobile operators having purchased 4G equipment from other suppliers than those subsequently restricted, or the right to a fair trial, e.g. when claimant would be unduly prevented from having access to certain classified information in order to properly state its case) and these would reject mobile operators’ claims, legal action before the ECHR Court would not be excluded.
In the event that a claim filed by the mobile operators proved to be successful before the latter court, compensation that might be awarded thereto could for instance include (i) compensation for financial damages (arising from the harmful consequences of the violation), (ii) compensation for indirect expropriation, (iii) monetary compensation for non-financial damages; this could be for instance the case of compensation for moral damages; and (iv) litigation costs and expenses incurred both before the national courts, and subsequently in the proceedings before the ECHR itself (fees for legal assistance, court registration fees, travel, accommodation, and daily allowance costs incurred when attending hearings, etc.).
Conclusions
The importance of ensuring the security of critical infrastructures is paramount. However, under the rule of law, this objective may only be achieved with lawful means. Should restrictive measures be adopted without observing the limitations and safeguards stemming from national and European legislation or the international law, mobile operators (as well as other parties that may incur prejudices) may potentially rely on various causes of action to seek compensation from Romania.
In order to mitigate risks of lengthy and costly litigations and/or significant delays in the implementation of 5G networks in Romania and/or prohibitive prices of 5G services that would eventually be borne respectively by taxpayers and consumers, Romania should carefully assess any restrictive measure it would seek to enforce to this effect from a legal perspective. Seen the dangers raised by the strategic measures referred to in the EU 5G Toolbox if implemented in an improper manner, properly balanced and thoroughly thought out technical measures may eventually prove as a safer alternative.
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This article contains general information and should not be considered as legal advice.
By Gelu Maravela, Founding Partner, Ioana Ivascu, Senior Associate, and Ada Pascu, Senior Associate, MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Asociatii