ABSTRACT
This chapter examines five Independent Administrative Authorities (IAA) are the Financial Markets Authority; the Council on Competition; the Postal Services and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority, the Energy Regulation Commission, and the Regulatory Authority for Technical Measures. It presents a brief summary of the various powers exerted by IAAs. The chapter covers the reasons that led to their creation, including the key role played by the European Union in the creation process of most IAAs. It discusses the way in which the law and, more generally, the action of IAAs fit into the national legal system. The High Authority against Discrimination and for Equality was created in 2004 to help fight discriminatory practices, a role not always fulfilled satisfactorily by the judicial authority. All IAAs are involved in the implementation of existing regulations and can therefore be considered key players in the judicial process.
