14. 2. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 37/5 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision on high-definition television 
COM(88) 659 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 2 December 1988) 
(89/C 37/05) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Whereas high-definition television (HDTV) is of 
strategic importance for the European consumer elec­
tronics industry and for the European television and film 
industries; 
Whereas a single world standard for the origination and 
exchange of high-definition television programmes and 
films is urgently required; 
Whereas European industry has developed, within the 
Eureka framework, a suitable proposal for such a single 
world production standard; 
Whereas prototype equipment built to this standard has 
been successfully demonstrated at the September 1988 
Brighton International Broadcasting Convention; 
Whereas 1992 may be set as a target date for the launch 
of commercial equipment on the market and the 
beginnings of operational HDTV services; 
Whereas a substantial promotion campaign needs to be 
launched immediately to prepare professional users and 
the general TV viewing public for such a launch; 
Whereas there is an urgent requirement to prepare 
a strategy and action plan for the launch of 
European-wide HDTV services; 
Whereas it is of great importance that all Member States 
of the Community participate in these activities; Whereas these initiatives should lead to closer 
cooperation at Community level between industry (the 
consumer and professional electronics industry and the 
TV and film production industry) and service providers 
(terrestrial broadcasters, satellite TV stations, cable 
operators, cinema distributors); 
Whereas the Treaty has not provided the necessary 
specific powers, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
The following objectives are hereby adopted as the basis 
of a comprehensive Community strategy for the intro­
duction of high-definition television services in Europe: 
Objective 1 
To ensure that the European industry develops in time 
all the necessary technology, components and equipment 
required for the progressive launching of HDTV services 
throughout the 1990s. 
Objective 2 
(i) To ensure that the European proposal based on the 
parameters 1 250 lines, 50 frames per second 
progressive scanning, is adopted as the single world 
standard for the origination and exchange of HDTV 
programme material; and 
(ii) to ensure that broadcast standards (which will be 
different in 50 Hz and 60 Hz countries) obey the 
rules already laid down in CCIR recommendation 
601 and are thus easily convertible into each other. 
Objective 3 
To ensure the widest use of the European HDTV system 
throughout the world and the most favourable en­
vironment for the sale of European HDTV equipment 
and programmes throughout the world. 
No C 37/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 14. 2. 89 
Objective 4 
To ensure the development of a strategy and action plan 
for the progressive launch of HDTV services in Europe 
throughout the 1990s. 
Article 2 
In order to attain the objectives referred to in Article 1, 
an action plan for the introduction of HDTV will be 
prepared, under the responsibility of the Commission in 
consultation with the: 
— Member States' authorities, 
— terrestrial broadcasters, 
— satellite TV stations, — cable operators, 
— professional and consumer electronics equipment 
manufacturers, 
— television and film production industry, 
throughout the Community, and throughout Europe as a 
whole, in close cooperation with the Eureka HDTV 
project actors and coordinators. 
Article 3 
On the basis of the results of the consultations, and on a 
proposal from the Commission, the Council shall decide 
an action plan for the introduction of HDTV services. 
This action plan will also include mechanisms allowing 
European third countries to participate. 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the limitation of noise emission from civil subsonic jet 
aeroplanes 
COM(88) 662 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 7 December 1988) 
(89/C 37/06) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 80/51/EECO, as amended by Directive 83/206/ 
EEC (2), fixes limits on emission of such noise; 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 84 (2) 
thereof, Whereas the priority programme of the Council for the 
study of air transport questions refers to emissions from 
aeroplanes including noise; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the application of noise emission standards to 
civil subsonic jet aeroplanes has significant consequences 
for the provision of air transport services in particular 
where such standards impose restrictions on the type of 
aeroplanes that may be operated by airlines, encourage 
investment in the latest and quietest aeroplanes available 
and facilitate the better use of existing capacity, 
including that of airports; whereas Council Directive Whereas the programme of action of the European 
Communities on the environment (3) shows clearly the 
importance of the problem of noise and, in particular, 
the need to take action against noise due to air traffic; 
Whereas aeroplane noise should be further reduced, 
taking into account environmental factors, technical 
feasibility and economic consequences; 
Whereas, therefore, it is appropriate to restrict the 
addition of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes to Member 
States' registers to those which comply with the 
standards specified in Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of 
Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil 
Aviation, first edition (November 1981), and, in 
conjunction with the creation of an area without internal 
(') OJ No L 18, 24. 1. 1980, p. 26. 
(2) OJ No L 117, 4. 5. 1983, p. 15. 
(J) OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987, p. 1.