A4-0279/97

Resolution on the communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the 'EU Action Plan: Satellite communications in the Information Society¨ (COM(97)0091 - C4-0131/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the communication from the Commission, COM(97)0091- C4- 0131/97,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy, (A4-0279/97)

A. whereas the future of the world's Global Information Infrastructure will be largely based on constellations of telecommunications satellites that will create an economically and strategically vital, high-speed, broadband global telecommunications services and applications industry, which will serve to bring peoples closer together and speed up the transfer of information throughout the world,

B. whereas currently the European Union is lagging behind in the development of this vital Global Satellite Infrastructure because of a lack of cooperation within the telecommunications industry and between that industry and the broader space industry, because of the fragmentation between the Member States, and because of the absence of a clear market perspective,

C. whereas the capabilities of the European telecommunications industry are on a par with those of competing nations, but suffer from an incomplete internal market for telecommunications services and applications, which is caused by the lack of compliance with the Commission's Directives on the liberalisation of the satellite communications service and equipment sector and by the continued existence of military, industrial and regulatory loopholes, thus making European-scale cooperation and development difficult in the industry as a whole, and in particular in such important sub- industries as global advanced broadband (multimedia) services for broadcasting and related activities, global satellite personal communications systems (S-PCS) and universal mobile telecommunications services (UMTS),

D. whereas there is currently a lack of coordination and cooperation between the research and development and the standardization activities carried out at the European Space Agency, ETSI and the various European industry actors,

E. whereas there is currently no common European Union policy with regard to the various international satellite organizations such as INTELSAT, INMARSAT and EUTELSAT,

F. whereas during the last round of international satellite frequency and orbit negotiations within the ITU, the strength of the European Union's bargaining position was undermined by lack of cooperation and coordination between Member States,

G. whereas the European Union's position in these industries could be improved through cooperation with other large nations such as the United States, Russia, Japan and China, through a reinforcement of the European position while complying with the necessary requirements in the context of the World Trade Organization, and through provision of the necessary impetus for a market-driven approach,

H. whereas due to the speed at which this industry is advancing, both technologically and in terms of economic and strategic importance, the European Union needs to take immediate steps to address the aforementioned issues,

1. Welcomes the Commission communication, which addresses the issues of satellite communications in the information society with emphasis placed on both cooperation between all relevant actors and a market-driven approach;

2. Recognizes that this industry is in need of immediate attention if the European Union is to avoid falling behind in this ever-advancing, vital economic sector;

3. Recognizes that any action taken needs to be as a result of consultation with, and cooperation between, the Member States and the industry actors, and have as its focal point a market-driven approach;

4. Calls upon the Commission to take quickly all measures in its power to enforce its Directives on the liberalization of the satellite communications equipment and services sector, by securing firm commitments from Member States concerning the timetables for such liberalization;

5. Considers that in its action plan, the Commission should, in parallel with the liberalization of European telecommunications, also take account of the possibility of privatizing satellite operators (ISO);

6. Considers that progress needs to be made in the following areas:

- reinforcement of the European position at international level, and especially within the context of the World Trade Organization,

- increased cooperation between the European Union and other competing nations such as the United States, Russia, Japan and China,

- increased cooperation between the European Union, the European Space Agency and the relevant industry actors,

- reinforcement of research and development support and cooperation, that can in turn lead to the more efficient development of new technologies,

- speedy harmonization of technical standards for advanced, broadband, multi-media satellite terminals and receivers,

- stronger focus on the importance of a market-driven approach;

7. Considers that, in the context of the international negotiations on the allocation of satellite frequencies and positions, the Commission should be able to defend European interests by acting as the harmonizer of the Member States' approaches and as the EU's authoritative spokesman;

8. Considers that the Commission should promote technical standardization measures at international level through ETSI and ensure that such measures involve neighbouring countries (Central and Eastern European and Mediterranean countries);

9. Shares the view that the Conference Européenne des Postes et Télécommunications (CEPT) has failed to address adequately the complex harmonization problems that exist, and that therefore efforts need to be stepped up to resolve such problems;

10. Urges the Commission to avoid bureaucratic delays and to give this issue top priority, by acting quickly to ensure that Europe can participate in this economically vital industry;

11. Calls upon the Commission to support the projects of common interest identified in the field of trans-European networks in order to speed up the development of satellite networks;

12. Calls upon the Commission to take steps to encourage the market-based development of commercially viable European Global Positioning Systems (GPS);

13. Considers that a chapter should be included in the framework research programme to support multimedia satellite communication technologies, in particular with regard to on-board switching, statistical access, ATM technologies, the creation of large-scale satellite antennae and standardization of terrestrial terminals;

14. Considers that in the context of precompetitive technological research, the Commission should involve and make use of the ESA as an instrument of management, harmonization and coordination of its projects, both to give a European dimension to the joint action and to avoid duplication;

15. Considers that the Commission should include in cooperation programmes with neighbouring Central and Eastern European and Mediterranean countries the establishment of satellite services on a bilateral and multilateral basis to improve telecommunication and transport infrastructures of common interest and to support development, training and cultural exchange programmes;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the ETSI and the ESA.