COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 31.05.1995 
COM(95) 224 final 
95/0124 (COD) 
TOWARDS THE INFORMATION SOCIETY 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 
on a 
Methodology for 
the implementation of information society 
applications 
Proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
on a series of guidelines for trans-European telecommunications 
networks 
(presented by the Commission) 

The following Communication presents an approach and measures to stimulate the 
development of the Information Society in Europe. 
It is composed of two documents: 
The first document describes the ways in which the Community can make the most 
efficient use of its resources to stimulate the deployment of Information Society 
applications 
The second document is a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the 
Council concerning a series of guidelines for trans-European telecommunications 
networks in accordance with Title XII of the Treaty. 
These two documents are complementary. Whereas the first document presents a 
methodology for applications, the second presents an instrument for implementing that 
methodology, using the framework of the trans-European telecommunications networks. 

4 CL 
PARTI 
COMMUNICATION FRQM THE. Ç,QMMI$gIQN 
TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 
on a 
Methodology for 
the implementation of information society 
applications 

ft. 
A METHODOLOGY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
INFORMATION SOCIETY APPLICATIONS1 
The joint Council of Industry and Telecommunication Ministers of 28 September 1994 
called upon the Commission to submit a document setting out its proposed methodology 
for coordinating action to develop new services and new applications, in particular in the 
context of the RTD framework programme and the trans-European networks programme. 
This document is submitted in response to that request. 
The following methodological framework aims to optimise the use of Community 
instruments and financial resources. This general objective will be met by raising 
awareness of potential private and public partnerships, improving the access to 
possible support and ensuring synergy between all existing Community instruments 
and financial resources. 
Overview 
The convergence of the information and telecommunication technologies and the related 
industries as well as the evolving regulatory environment which is leading to liberalisation 
of the telecommunication sector are creating opportunities for the emergence of new 
networks, applications and services using information as a resource. In particular, the 
rapid liberalisation of local infrastructures will encourage the take-off of experimental 
projects. Market mechanisms have been recognised as the driving forces for the advent of 
this information era. Indeed, it is primarily up to the private sector to take the necessary 
initiatives for the development of information and communication infrastructures, in 
particular in the area of financing. 
The European Council nevertheless considered that the Community and the Member 
States, besides their responsibilities in the field of competition and in the implementation 
of a new regulatory framework, have an important role to play in supporting this 
development by giving a strong political impetus and stimulating if necessary the 
implementation of application projects. 
In most areas, the commercial viability of the new services and applications is sufficiently 
attractive to render public action unnecessary or to restrict it to a minimum to cover, for 
example, part of the risks involved in the development of new technologies. In certain 
application fields where, despite evident socio-economic benefits, the prospects for 
commercial viability are judged by private investors to be uncertain or long term, catalytic 
actions can be envisaged under the umbrella of public authorities, in particular in areas of 
1 In this Communication, the term "application" refers to all aspects of a particular use of information 
and communication technologies. It docs not refer to information content. 
collective interest. Lack of immediate commercial viability for certain applications is also 
partly due to the innovative character of the applications, requiring rapid integration of 
new technologies and organisational adaptation. 
The Community, in conformity with the principle of subsidiarity, can play a 
catalytic role by helping generate the critical mass that will attract private investors, 
thus allowing markets to take off more rapidly. 
Delays in investing in information infrastructures will have negative impacts on the socio­
economic development of the Community, growth and employment The creation of a 
wide range of business opportunities in new growth areas (e.g. multimedia) of the 
economy depends on the availability of new integrated information and communications 
systems. 
The services and applications carried by these systems in all sectors of the economy are 
likely to give rise to and support new economic and social activities. These new activities 
will boost job creation, in particular in SMEs. They will also contribute to improving 
social and regional cohesion. 
THE ROLE OF THE UNION 
The Union can help stimulate the launch of project initiatives and, in certain cases, 
can support the implementation of these projects by making a financial 
contribution. 
1. The Stimulation of Project Initiatives 
In conjunction with Member State actions, the Union can help stimulate the launch of 
project initiatives involving the development or supply of Information Society applications 
and services 
To advise the Commission in these activities, two new advisory structures have been 
created, the Information Society Forum, which brings together all the actors concerned, 
and the High Level Social Experts Groups whose members will examine the social and 
societal aspects. In addition, a specialised Task Force within the Commission has been set 
up to examine ways in which to develop European educational multimedia software. 
These stimulation activities will aim to satisfy the needs of actors from different sectors 
who may have an interest in supplying or using services and applications. These actors, 
both suppliers and users, include industry, network operators, service providers, content 
industries, financial institutions, SMEs, national administrations, regional and city 
authorities. Particular attention will be paid to the needs of all citizens. 
In this context the Union can fulfill three main roles: 
• An Information and awareness role, notably: 
- in maintaining an updated inventory of projects that are planned or underway 
at national, European and international level (this task is one of the 11 projects 
identified by the G7), and ensuring they are carried out; 
- on existing technologies, and the ways to access them, in particular the 
technologies developed in the framework of the RTD programmes managed at 
Union level; 
- on the regulatory environment and its evolution. 
• A Role of Brokerage: 
- in bringing together actors from different sectors who may have a common 
interest in certain initiatives; 
- in encouraging, by means of such action, the formation of partnerships, in 
particular between private and public actors. 
A Role of guidance towards the sources of financial support: 
- when interested partners are in the process of organising themselves for the 
realisation of a project, orient them towards the appropriate Commission services 
which manage Community support instruments, so that the partners can evaluate 
the nature and the potential of support available within the Union. 
The Information Society Project Office (ISPO) was created by the Commission in 
December 1994 to provide a one-stop-shop interface to access such activities. 
2. Community financial support for the realisation of projects 
The Community has at its disposal a certain number of financial intervention instruments, 
which may be used, in addition to private or public resources, to create the critical mass of 
investment necessary for the launch of a project. 
These instruments, which must be used each according its own rules, are: 
• the trans-European networks support mechanism 
• the framework RTD programme 
• the Structural Funds, and the Cohesion Fund. 
• the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund. 
• the programmes dedicated to education and training 
Annex 1 describes these instruments in detail. 
In the case where the commercial characteristics of a project are sufficiently attractive to 
directly trigger a private initiative, Community intervention will not be necessary. 
Some projects, whilst having clear socio-economic benefits, may not be immediately 
commercially viable. This is often the case for projects of collective interest. In such 
instances, the Community has the scone to use the combination of these instruments 
in a coordinated way, taking advantage of their complementarity and ensuring their 
synergy. 
In order to respect both the competition rules which apply to the telecommunications 
sector which is being progressively liberalised, and the specific needs of each of the 
projects for which Community support is justified, a number of principles will have to be 
applied in the management of any financial support given to a project: 
a) The choice of the project should be made following a demand-driven approach, and 
use public calls for proposals procedures, in order to give equal chances to all the 
potential proposers. The amount of support requested will be a criteria for project 
selection, taking into account the need to respect the Community's competition rules. 
b) Each instrument shall be used in accordance with its own rules: and specificities 
this means that the type of support requirements of a project will be analysed in order 
to apply the Community instruments which best satisfy these different needs. For 
instance, RTD support will address the need for supporting the eventual research-
development and demonstration phase of a project, Structural Funds for the deployment 
of the projects in certain regions, trans-European networks resources for feasibility 
studies, interest rebates, loan guarantees, etc. 
c) A problem to be solved is the coordination over time of the availability of the 
different financial supports. To solve it in the case where access to several instruments 
is governed by a call for proposals (as for RTD programmes and trans-European networks 
projects), a coordination in the time of the calls can be managed. 
The Commission will have to set up and operate a coordination framework to manage 
these aspects. The management framework of the Decision on trans-European 
telecommunications networks guidelines, the proposal of which is introduced in the 
second document of this Communication, can be one of these coordination 
frameworks2. 
3. Concluding remarks 
There will be cases where it will not be possible to support an initiative, either because of 
lack of funds or because it lies outside the scope or the rules of the available instruments 
Within a year the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council 
a report covering the progress of the initial actions, their impacts, and identifying 
difficulties encountered, including the case where support could not be given. 
Groups of Commissioners have been established to deal respectively vviih information society and 
audiovisual, trans-European networks, and cohesion. 
ANNEX 1 
THE COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 
a) The trans-European networks support mechanism (Title XII) 
This instrument is intended to support the development of transport, energy and 
telecommunications networks provided for in Title XII, Article 129c, of the EC 
Treaty. For the trans-European telecommunications networks the Commission has 
earmarked an indicative amount of ECU 450 million for the period 1995-99, just 
under ECU 300 million of which is to support projects of common interest set out 
in the guidelines adopted by the Council. This support will be granted to projects 
the potential economic benefit of which is established but the financial profitability 
of which is uncertain or inadequate. It may take the form of joint financing of 
feasibility studies, including preparatory studies, and other technical measures, and 
interest-rate subsidies and contributions to loan guarantee premiums. 
A proposal for a Regulation laying down the conditions for granting Community 
support for trans-European network projects of common interest is being 
negotiated at the Council and the European Parliament. The Council adopted a 
common position on 31 March 1995. This Regulation also authorizes the granting 
of direct subsidies in duly substantiated exceptional cases. 
b) The fourth RTD framework programme 
The Community's total contribution to the fourth framework programme at 
present stands at ECU 13 161 million for the period 1994-98, of which 
ECU 3 620 million for information and communication technologies, under the 
following three headings: telematics applications (TELEMATICS applications 
programme: ECU 902 million), advanced communications technologies (ACTS 
programme: ECU 674 million) and information technologies (ESPRIT 
programme: ECU 2 044 million). RTD projects in these three areas will help to 
establish the Information Society as a result of their development and especially 
their demonstration activities: 
collective interest applications under the TELEMATICS applications 
programme most of the funds of which are earmarked for demonstration 
projects; 
chiefly basic technology under the ACTS programme; 
basic technologies, applications and industrial best practice under the 
ESPRIT programme. 
To this should be added the horizontal activities in the area of dissemination and 
exploitation of research. 
c) The Structural Funds 
The Structural Funds3 represent a considerable financing potential,4 but they do 
not contain any specific items, under the heading of telecommunications 
programmes, to support the development of the Information Society. They are an 
instrument of economic and social cohesion policy, an expression of 
intra-Community solidarity, in particular between regions. In this connection, 
Community assistance to the Objective 1 regions (those lagging behind in their 
development) for which 70% of the aid is earmarked (some ECU 96 billion) comes 
from three sources: 
the Community Support Frameworks (CSFs) drawn up by the Member 
States. On the basis of the CSFs already approved, the amount devoted to 
telecommunications investments is estimated at about ECU 1.4 billion, or 
1.3% of the Community aid. For most of the Member States with access to 
the resources of the Structural Funds, the telecommunications sector is not 
a priority in the allocation of Community aid; 
the Community initiatives, subdivided into seven topics,5 receive 9% of the 
amounts allocated to the structural policies, i.e. ECU 13.45 billion. This 
includes a reserve of ECU 1.6 billion for one or more initiatives still to be 
defined. It can be considered that two of the seven topics have a more 
obvious potential link with the development of the Information Society in 
the regions, internal and external trans-frontier cooperation, with the 
INTERREG II initiative, with a budget of ECU 2.9 billion, and industrial 
change, with the SME initiatives aimed at improving the competitiveness of 
SMEs, with a budget of ECU 1 billion, and ADAPT, aimed at facilitating 
the adaptation of workers to industrial change, with a budget of 
ECU 1.4 billion; 
The Community's Structural Funds arc as follows: the ERDF (European Regional Development 
Fund) the aim of which is to reduce the differences in development between the various 
Community regions; the ESF (European Social Fund) which is responsible for improving 
employment possibilities within the Community; the EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance 
and Guarantee Fund) which contributes towards the national agricultural aid schemes and the 
development and diversification of rural areas in the Community; and the F1FG (Financial 
Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) which supports the restructuring of the fisheries sector. 
ECU 141 billion for the period 1994-99. i.e. one-third of the total Community budget. 
Internal and external trans-frontier cooperation, rural development, the most remote regions, 
employment and development of human resources, industrial change, urban policies, and 
initiatives for areas dependent on fishing. 
under Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation (regional development in the 
Community), the Commission has a financial mechanism limited to 1% of 
the ERDF's annual allocation to contribute to innovative actions in regional 
development through pilot schemes which encourage the pooling of 
experience and the development of cooperation between different 
Community regions, and innovative measures. These pilot schemes should 
have an innovative character, a European networking dimension and a 
strong potential for demonstration effects in other regions. 
To ensure consistency for the possible information society measures, the 
Commission is preparing a framework for such support under Article 10. 
Pursuant to Article 6 of the European Social Fund Regulation (technical 
assistance, pilot and demonstration projects), innovative projects designed 
to test new hypotheses concerning the content, methodology and 
organization of vocational training and the development of employment and 
studies and pilot projects may be funded. Applications concerning training 
and the development of employment could be funded under this article. 
d) The Cohesion Fund 
Four Member States, in addition to the Structural Funds, benefit from a cohesion 
financial instrument intended to speed up their convergence. The areas concerned 
are transport and the environment. It is not excluded that the actions co-financed 
could contain an element of telematics applications. 
e) The European Investment Bank 
The EIB actively contributes to the financing of telecommunications networks, 
which account for 15% of its loan portfolio. In 1994 it financed 
telecommunications projects to the tune of approximately ECU 2.1 billion. The 
temporary Edinburgh mechanism was set up in 1992 to speed up the financing of 
trans-European networks. As of today, it has been fully utilised of which 641 
MECUS on telecommunications projects. 
The EIB loans finance projects which contribute to the Community objectives of 
strengthening the internal market and economic and social cohesion. These 
projects must be financially viable. The ceiling is 50% of the total investment cost. 
f) The European Investment Fund 
The EIF supports large infrastructure projects by granting guarantees not 
exceeding 50% of the amount of the loan. EIF assistance is coordinated with the 
other forms of Community assistance, in particular EIB loans. 
g) The SOCRATES and LEONARDO programmes 
The overall aim of the SOCRATES programme (850 MEcu from 1995 to 1999) is 
to help improve the quality and relevance of education for children, young people 
and adults, to increase access to the range of learning opportunities available 
across the Community, and to give more young people the chance to gain personal 
experience of other European countries as their prepare for their future career. 
The LEONARDO DA VINCI programme (714 MEcu from 1995 to 1999) will 
support and complement actions in the Member states to improve the quality of 
training policy and practice and its capacity to find new ways of learning. 
The promotion of open and distance learning actions is a common objective to 
these programmes. 

1o 
PART II 
Proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT and COUNCIL DECISION 
on a series of guidelines for 
trans-European telecommunications networks 

m 
CONTENTS 
1. Introduction : The Infrastructure for the Information Society 
a) The trends 
b) Advanced communications 
c) The role of the Union 
2. The Basis for Action 
3. The Objectives 
4. The Priorities 
5. The Broad Lines of Measures 
6. Projects of Common Interest 
a) Domains 
b) Procedure for Identification 
c) Follow-up of the Procedure 
7. Conclusions 
PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION ON 
A SERIES OF GUIDELINES FOR TRANS-EUROPEAN 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS 
Annex 1 : Domains for Projects of Common Interest 
Annex 2 : Identification criteria 
ne 
1. Introduction : The Infrastructure for the Information Society 
To... stimulate the creation of new markets, the Commission proposes to identify 
strategic trans-European projects.... The strategic projects would be carried out at 
each of three interdependent "levels" that make up the telecommunications 
networks: the carrier networks for transmission of information, generic services and 
telematics applications. 
With regard to the networks which serve to carry the information (voice, data, 
images) the objective would be to consolidate the integrated services digital network 
and to install the high speed communications network using advanced transmission 
and switching techniques (asynchronous transfer mode: ATM), which will help 
digitized multi-media services to make a breakthrough. 
White Paper - "Growth, Competitiveness, 
Employment: The Challenges and Ways 
Forward into the 21st Century" 
a) The Trends 
Trans-European Telecommunications Networks should follow an overall 
evolution scenario whereby Europe will advance from its present situation to 
the deployment of an advanced communications by the year 2010-2020. 
This evolution will be triggered by users demand. In order to satisfy 
increasingly sophisticated needs, they will require advanced services and 
applications which can be offered only on highly advanced networks. 
Two main trends, commercial and technological, which will form the European 
communications environment over the planning period, can already be 
discerned. 
These two trends, under favourable conditions, will give rise to new growth 
areas of activity which will be supported by advanced communication 
infrastructure and services. As these activities expand, and foster new and 
diverse market opportunities, new jobs will be created in a wide range of 
sectors. 
The commercial trend will be towards an ever closer integration and 
consolidation of European network operations, driven by the increasing 
internationalization of European commercial and indeed social life inspired by 
the Single Market. This will be marked by increased co-operation of 
telecommunications operators in joint business operations combined possibly 
with financial partnerships or take-overs between operators. 
Ai 
At the same time liberalisation will open the way for alternative network 
and service provision further increasing the need for attention of interworking 
and transparency of service provision. The public network operators will be 
placed under further pressure by new foreign competitors who will come into 
the market riding on innovative technologies such as digital mobile and satellite 
communications, and interactive television. 
The main technological trend will be for the integration into the initial 
simple broadband network increasing features of intelligence and 
mobility. Additionally, new applications will develop, taking advantage of the 
increased transport capacity and flexibility of the network (e.g. video-on-
demand, tele-presence). 
b) Advanced Communications 
The commercial and technology trends point to the integration of all kinds of 
communications means, offering a variety of telecommunication services, from 
narrowband to broadband, the ultimate goal being Integrated Broadband 
Communications (ÏBC), which include three key features: 
"Integrated" points to "integrity" of the whole network, and therefore 
to the proper interworking of all its essential constituent parts, 
including the existing and emerging ones: voice telephony; Integrated 
Service Digital Networks (ISDN), broadband, satellite and mobile. It 
also signifies the integration of services (at the user and the 
appropriate network levels). 
"Broadband" designates the total mix of services to be considered, 
starting from ISDN, up to what will be required by a realistic 
introduction of video (interactive and distributive) services. 
"Communication" includes the "conventional" switching, 
transmission, and Customer Premises Network functions, but also 
advanced features to make service provision user-friendly, performing 
and economically sound. 
These networks will: 
o Provide a seamless access to information, including in rural and 
peripheral areas. 
o Provide high bandwidth, multi-party, interactive services on 
acceptable economic terms. 
o Cover progressively the whole territory of the Community. 
o Allow for the extension to other networks. 
o Provide easy and efficient access to information and transfer of 
information among citizens. 
The implementation of these networks can be schematised into four 
overlapping phases: 
1990-2000: Implementation and increasing use of EURO-ISDN. 
1995-2010: Implementation of Integrated Broadband Communication, with the 
completion of customer access, initially for business customers. Offer of a 
number of advanced services, in particular multimedia services. 
2000-2010: Integration of intelligence and mobility in the networks, allowing 
full "follow me"mobility throughout these networks. 
2005-2020: Implementation of the "photonic network", where all network 
functions are realised through optic devices, allowing the offer of very 
broadband switched services to 50% of the customers. 
c) The Role of the Union 
The importance of the role of trans-European telecommunications networks 
within the Union has been recognized within Title XII of the Maastricht 
Treaty, Articles 129b and 129c. These Articles of the Treaty provide an 
instrument for supporting, in combination with other Community instruments, 
the implementation of the networks, services and applications of the 
information society. The following points introduce a Proposal for an 
European Parliament and Council Decision on a series of guidelines for trans-
European Telecommunications Networks. 
2. The Basis for Action 
Article 129b stipulates: 
1. ...the Community shall contribute to the establishment and development of trans-
European networks in the areas of ...telecommunications... infrastructures. 
2. Within the framework of a system of open and competitive markets, action by the 
Community shall aim at promoting the interconnection and interoperability of 
national networks as well as access to such networks. It shall take account in 
particular of the need to link island, landlocked and peripheral regions with the 
central regions of the Community. 
-is 
Article 129c indicates: 
I. In order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article J29b, the Community: 
shall establish a series of guidelines covering the objectives, priorities and 
broad lines of measures envisaged in the sphere of trans-European networks; 
these guidelines shall identify projects of common interest. 
The following sections propose a series of guidelines as defined in Article 129c for 
the trans-European Telecommunications Networks. 
3. The Overall Objectives 
The White Paper has linked the creation of trans-European telecommunication 
networks to the goals of Growth, Competitiveness and Employment. It paves the 
way to the information society by providing target areas for strategic projects up to 
the year 2000 in the field of interconnected advanced communication networks, 
generic services and telematic applications. 
The Bangemann Report prepared by a high level group of industrialists has also 
emphasised the need to accelerate the creation of the building blocks of the 
information society. Particular attention is given to "blazing the trail" by supporting 
the launch of targeted applications in 10 areas which directly respond to essential 
economic and social needs1. 
The necessary actions to develop trans-European telecommunication networks will 
be based on the promotion of access, interconnection and interoperability with a 
view to satisfying the diversity of users' needs. These actions shall contribute to 
achieving the following overall objectives: 
facilitating the evolution towards the information society by promoting the 
increased use of and improved access to advanced technologies, notably 
through adapted education and training facilities, to encourage new working 
arrangements (e.g. telework) and develop new information applications and 
services, particularly in areas of collective interest such as healthcare, 
education and training, and cultural activities which contribute to improving 
the quality of life and the environment, 
improving the competitiveness of European industry and strengthening 
the internal market by encouraging the development of pan-European 
networks, applications and generic services which will support the growth of 
trans-European electronic commerce and new commercial applications, and 
"Europe and the global information society - Recommendations to the European Council" 26.05.1994 
ne 
enable citizens of the Union to access and transfer information freely within an 
area without internal frontiers, 
reinforcing economic and social cohesion by reducing disparities between 
the regions concerning both the general availability of and access to 
telecommunications infrastructure,services, and applications 
accelerating the development of new growth area activities (e.g. 
multimedia and electronic information services) leading to job creation, 
by creating a favourable environment to obtain critical mass of demand and 
investment. 
An appropriate on-going monitoring mechanism will be set up to assess how effectively 
all the trans-European telecommunication network projects are responding to these 
objectives. Such a mechanism will track progress towards the achievement of TENs as 
well as provide social and economic evaluation of projects on the basis of indicators 
related to the specific character of the projects and their objectives 
Regular reports will be submitted to the European Council, the European Parliament, the 
Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the 
Regions. 
4. The Priorities 
Within these objectives, the Commission proposes priorities for Community action in 
relation to the three layers which form the model for trans-European 
telecommunications networks. 
applications, which provide logical access to information by its user. 
Applications may require to be interoperable between themselves ; 
generic services, which, through support for their common requirements, 
complement the specific applications whilst aiding their interoperability ; 
basic networks, which provide physical access, transport, and connectivity. 
The Community must make optimal use of its limited financial resources . In this 
context, priorities have to be carefully defined. User driven applications are the most 
important because they underpin the deployment of the information society. They will 
create the demand for new investments in advanced telecommunications services and 
networks. However, whilst, some applications can already be supplied using existing 
infrastructures their overall development is limited by uncertainty in the market and 
by the hesitancy of users to adapt to new services. 
The priority has therefore to be put on stimulating the development of 
applications which will allow every kind of user to access the information it needs, 
in the framework of the objectives aimed at by Community action. The priorities to 
be assigned to generic services will derive from their support to allowing the 
availability of these applications, as well as from their role of service whiqh has to be 
directly accessible to users. For basic networks, the priorities will resujlt from the 
necessity for them to assure a cheap and efficient transport of information, to allow 
the rapid introduction of new applications and generic services and to offer rapidly 
the newest and most appropriate transport technologies. Particular attention must be 
paid to the needs of the SMEs. 
Applications 
The following priorities relate to applications : 
the creation of applications that stimulate and support thetransition 
towards the knowledge based information society, particularly those 
applications which respond to needs of collective interest and help to 
change the general culture of all citizens by introducing familiarity with 
the environment and tools of the information society, 
the development of applications that contribute to social and economic 
cohesion, both by improving information access throughout the Union 
and by exploiting the potential afforded by the diversity of the European 
cultures, 
the development of accessible and interoperable applications that 
strengthen the competitivity of European companies as well as the 
internal market, and in particular those applications that will provide 
SMEs with the tools that they require in order to gain and maintain 
competitiveness. 
Generic Services 
The following priorities relate to generic services : 
the establishment, within an evolving context of universal service2, of 
interconnected and interoperable trans-European generic services, as 
well as the definition of common standards 
the world-wide interoperability of trans-European generic services. 
Basic Networks 
The following priorities relate to digital basic networks : 
the promotion of the existing Euro-ISDN network as an immediately 
available digital platform for the support of new applications, 
The principle of Universal Service is an essenlial clcmenl of ihc rcgulalory framework pul forward in 
the Green Paper on the liberalisalion of lelecommunicalions infrastructure and cable television 
networks. See COM(95 158 final 
4* 
the rapid development of efficient and cost effective broadband 
networks in Europe having the network federating characteristics of 
Integrated Broadband Communications, 
the interconnection and interoperability of trans-European 
telecommunications networks to world-wide networks and the adoption 
of appropriate standards. 
5. The Broad Lines of Measures 
In order to reach these objectives, there is a need for action by the Community. Many 
measures are already being taken within other frameworks such as the fourth 
Framework RTD Programme, the regulatory field, etc... 
In addition, direct action is needed to stimulate the development of the trans-
European networks. These actions, which must build on the existence of expressed 
or potentiel needs, should aim on the one hand at favour the concrete expression of 
the needs, on the other hand to encourage and support the initiatives to be taken by 
the providers to offer the services and applications responding to these needs. The 
first document presented in this Communication spells out the methods of action 
which should be used. 
These methods can be summarised as follows: 
identification of projects of common interest. 
action to increase public awareness of the existence of, and benefits offered by, 
new means of communication, 
support for the confirmation of the feasibility, and for the deployment of 
applications, in particular those of collective interest, through the means 
provided for in the Treaties, and through the development of new partnerships 
between public and private interests, 
action to stimulate the provision and use of telematic services for SMEs and 
professionals, a measure which should act as a main engine for growth and 
employment in Europe, 
action which encourages the rapid development of trans-European broad-band 
networks, 
Whenever appropriate, co-operation with third countries will be facilitated with 
respect to the implementation of measures under the present guidelines, in 
particular when these are deemed to be of mutual interest and to ensure the 
interconnection of basic networks and the interoperability of the services that are 
supported by these networks. 
A<% 
6. Projects of Common Interest 
a) Domains of Projects of Common Interest 
The development of trans-European telecommunications networks will be 
assured through the implementation of Projects of Common Interest. Taking 
into consideration the specific characters of the sector, it appears that it is 
not possible to define a priori specific Projects of Common Interest like 
for instance in the transport sector. The telecommunications sector is 
effectively characterised by a very fast technological change and is being 
progressively liberalised: the combination of these two factors leads to the 
conclusion that the initiatives for Projects: 
have to come from the private sector (or from a partnership between 
public and private sector in the case the services to be promoted are 
used by a public authority for the execution of its public service 
mission), 
must answer expressed user needs. 
Specific Projects of Common Interest can therefore only be identified 
through a demand driven approach, using a procedure of Call for 
Proposals in chosen domains to collect the initiatives which should stem 
from recognised users needs. The broad domains in which proposals for 
specific projects may be requested are those which appear to be main building 
blocks of the information society: 
in the field of applications, the applications of collective interest 
identified in the Bangemann's report are of particular importance3, 
in the field of generic services, the services which support the offer of 
most of the applications have to be strongly encouraged, 
in the field of basic networks, projects improving network 
interconnection, promoting the required infrastructures for the 
development of applications and services, and the deployment of 
advanced network features, like the introduction of broadband 
communication, should be supported where appropriate. 
The list of domains for Projects of Common Interest covering the three parts 
of the trans-European telecommunications networks is presented in Annex 1 
to the draft Proposal which follows this Communication. Annex 1 includes 
3 Where appropriate, projects will be closely coordinated with content related inialives (INFO2000) in 
specific applications domains to achieve possible synergy effects 
also a number of horizontal support and coordination actions, with a view to 
strengthening the interconnection and interoperability of networks and 
services. 
b) The procedure for Identification of the Specific Projects of Common Interest 
A Work programme will be set up and updated as necessary by the 
Commission, in consultation with the sector actors, to individualize, in the 
broad domains choosen, more specific areas in which proposals will be 
requested. A Call for Proposals will then be established and launched in the 
areas retained in the Work programme. 
The identification of Projects of Common Interest among the proposals 
received will then take place on the basis of their compliance to the objectives 
and priorities adopted, as well as to criteria regarding their financial 
soundness. At the end of the process, a list of Projects of Common Interest 
will be available 
In the management of this procedure of identification of Projects, the 
Commission will be assisted by a Committee of representatives of the 
Member States. 
c) Follow-up of this procedure 
The implementation of this Decision allows to identify a list of Projects of 
Common Interest. 
Projects, taken from this list, which will benefit from the Community 
financial support under art.l29C.l, third indent, will be selected in a 
further sequence within the framework of the "Regulation laying down 
general principles for the granting of Community financial aid in the 
field of trans-European networks". 
This form of Community financial support will be mainly focussed on the 
applications domains, in particular on the applications of collective 
interest. 
The projects belonging to the basic networks and generic services layers, being 
much closer to commercial profitability, should be eligible only to limited 
Community support under the Regulation rules. 
. -? n 
Eut the recourse to the other sources^ of Community financing remains open 
for all the Projects of Common Interest identified within the financing rules 
governing each instrument. In addition, their recognition as Projects of 
Common Interest gives them a political visibility, which should facilitate 
obtaining financial support from other public and private sources. 
7. CONCLUSIONS 
On the basis of Articles 129b and 129c of the Treaty, and within the context of the 
present Communication on an overall framework and guidelines for trans-European 
telecommunications networks, the Commission hereby submits for adoption to the 
European Parliament and the Council the attached proposal for a Decision on a series 
of guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks. 
These other sources arc: Fourth Framework RDT programme, Structural Funds, Cohesion Fund, 
European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund. These inslrumenls are described in details in 
Annex 1 to the document "Methodology for the implementation of information society applications". 
z< 
PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL 
DECISION 
on a Series of Guidelines 
for Trans-European Telecommunications Networks. 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the 
first paragraph of the Article 129D thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee5; 
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions6; 
Whereas the implementation and the development of trans-European telecommunications 
networks aim at ensuring the circulation and the exchange of information across the 
Union; whereas this is a pre-condition to make possible the establishment of the 
"Information Society", which will result from the availability, for each citizen, company or 
public authority everywhere in the Union, of any kind and quantity of information they 
need; 
Whereas, in its White Paper on "Growth, Competitiveness and Employment", the 
Commission stressed the importance of establishing the Information Society, which, by 
introducing new forms of economic, political and social relations, will help the Union to 
face the new challenges of the next century, including the challenge of employment 
creation ; whereas this has been recognised by the Brussel's European Council of 
December 1993; 
Whereas the internal market establishes an area without borders, within which the free 
circulation of goods, persons, capital and services has to be ensured, and where already 
adopted Community measures, and other measures still to be adopted, imply significant 
exchange of information between individuals, organisations and administrations; whereas 
efficient means of exchanging information are vital for the improvement of industrial 
competitiveness; whereas these exchanges of information can be assured by trans-
European telecommunications networks; whereas the availability of trans-European 
networks will strengthen social and economic cohesion at the Union level; 
<?s 
Whereas the implementation and the development of trans European telecommunications 
networks should ensure that information is freely exchanged between individuals, 
organisations and administrations, while respecting the privacy rights of individuals and 
intellectual and industrial property rights. 
Whereas, in June 1994, in their report on "Europe and the global information society"7, 
the members of a group of prominent representatives of industry recommended to the 
Council to implement trans-European telecommunications networks and to secure their 
interconnectivity with the whole of European networks; whereas the June 1994 Corfu 
European Council gave its general approval to this recommendation; 
Whereas the Communication of the Commission to the Council and the European 
Parliament "Europe's way to the Information Society: an Action Plan"8, follows these 
recommendations; whereas the conclusions of the Industry-Telecommunications Council 
meeting on September 28th, 1994 on this action plan, stressed the fact that the fast 
development of performant information infrastructures (networks, services and 
applications), is essential for Europe on the basis of a global, coherent and balanced 
approach; 
Whereas Article 129c of the Treaty requires that the Community shall establish a series of 
guidelines covering the objectives, priorities and broad lines of measures to be 
implemented in the sphere of trans-European networks; whereas these guidelines shall 
identify Projects of Common Interest; 
Whereas the Information Society cannot develop without the availability of applications, 
and especially applications of collective interest, answering optimally to user needs, taking 
into account, where appropriate, the needs of the elderly and disabled; whereas 
applications will thus form an important part of the Projects of Common Interest; 
Whereas Projects of Common Interest can, in many cases already be implemented in the 
present telecommunications networks, in order to offer trans-European applications; 
whereas guidelines have to be drawn up, in order to identify these Projects of Common 
Interest 
Whereas in the selection and implementation of such projects account should be taken of 
both infrastructures offered by telecommunications organisations as well as alternative 
infrastructures offered by other providers; 
Whereas the Commission has transmitted to the Council a series of guidelines concerning 
the development of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) as a trans-European 
Network9; whereas the Council has reached a common position on this proposal; 
7 Report prepared for the Council Meeting on June 24-25. 1994. in Corfu, on "Europe and ihc global 
information society - Recommendations to the European Council" 
8 COM(94) 347, 19.07.1994 
9 COM(93) 347, 1.09.1993 
z7 
Whereas the present networks, which include existing ISDN, are evolving towards 
advanced networks offering a variable data flow rate up to broadband capabilities, 
adaptable to different needs, in particular to the offer of multimedia services and 
applications; whereas the implementation of Integrated Broadband Communication (IBC) 
Networks will be the outcome of this evolution; whereas IBC will constitute the optimal 
platform on which applications of the Information Society can be built; 
Whereas the results of the specific research and technological development programme10 
in the field of communication technologies (RACE) have prepared the ground and the 
technology base for the introduction of IBC networks in Europe; 
Whereas the results of specific research and technological development programme in 
information technologies (ESPRIT) has prepared the ground and the technological base 
for the introduction of applications of information technologies. 
Whereas the results of the specific research and technological development programmes in 
the field of telematics systems of general interest (91-94)11 and Telematics Applications of 
Common Interest (94-98)12 prepare the ground for the introduction of interoperable 
applications of common interest across Europe; 
Whereas effective coordination needs to be ensured between the different Community 
programmes, and in particular as appropriate, with programs in favour of SMEs13 and 
with information content oriented programmes (such as INFO 2000, MEDIA 2) and other 
Information Society activities. 
Whereas in its Communication14 on "Preparatory actions in the field of Trans-European 
Networks-Integrated Broadband Communications (TEN-IBC)", the Commission 
identified the need to carry out preparatory actions with the sector actors to draw up 
appropriate Guidelines; whereas the result of these actions form the basis for the 
guidelines related to IBC networks in this Decision; 
Whereas the telecommunications sector is being progressively liberalised; whereas the 
development of trans-European applications, services and networks relies mainly on 
private initiative; whereas these trans-European developments must respond to market 
needs; whereas, taking this into account, the interested sector actors will be requested to 
propose, through appropriate procedures giving them equal chances, specific Projects of 
Common Interest in choosen domains; whereas these procedures have to be defined and a 
10 Council Decision 91/352/EEC (OJ. L 192. 16.7.1991, p. 8) 
11 Council Decision 91/353/EEC (O.J. L 192. 16.7.1991. p. 18) 
12 Council Decision 94/801/EC (O.J. L334. 22.12.1994. p.l) 
13 Communication from the Commission : "Integrated programme in favour of SMEs and the craft 
sector" COM 94 207 du 3/06/1994 
14 COM(93) 372 of 22.07.1993 (O.J. N° C200. 24.07.1993. p. 22) 
2 S 
list of the choosen domains has to be adopted; whereas a Committee shall assist the 
Commission for the identification of the specific Projects of Common Interest; 
Whereas the Community financial support to the implementation of Projects of Common 
Interest identified within this Decision has to be considered in the framework of the 
Regulation laying down general principles for the granting of Community financial aid in 
the field of trans-European networks; whereas following this Regulation, the concerned 
Member states shall give a certain degree of support to the Projects of Common Interest; 
Whereas the Commission shall undertake actions to assure interoperability of the 
networks, and to coordinate the activities of the Member States aiming at the 
implementation of trans-European telecommunications networks; 
Whereas it is important, for the optimum development of the Information Society, to 
assure an efficient exchange of information between the Community and the third 
countries, in particular the states members of the European Economic Area; whereas it is 
thus necessary to promote networks interconnection and interoperability at European 
scale; 
Whereas, however, activities undertaken in the context of these guidelines are subject to 
the full application of the competition rules set out in the Treaty and implementing 
legislation 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION 
Article I 
This Decision establishes guidelines covering objectives, priorities and broad lines of 
measures in the field of trans-European telecommunications networks. These guidelines 
set out the domains for Projects of Common Interest, and a procedure for the 
identification of specific Projects of Common Interest in these domains. 
Article 2 
The Community will support the interconnection of telecommunications networks, in 
particular Integrated Broadband Communication (IBC) networks, the setting-up and the 
deployment of interoperable services and applications and required infrastructure as well 
as the access to them, with the general objectives of: 
Facilitating the transition towards the information society, in particular to 
promote the satisfaction of social needs and to improve the quality of life. 
• Improving competitiveness of European industry and strengthening the internal 
market. 
• Strengthening the economic and social cohesion. 
Accelerating the development of new growth area activities leading to job 
creation. 
Article 3 ' 
The priorities for the realisation of the objectives mentioned in article 2 will be: 
• The confirmation of the feasibility, followed by the deployment of applications 
supporting the development of a European Information Society, in particular 
applications of collective interest. 
• The confirmation of the feasibility, followed by the deployment of applications 
contributing to the economic and social cohesion, by improving access to 
information across the whole Union building on the European cultural 
diversity. 
• Actions aiming at the stimulation of interregional initiatives, associating less 
favoured regions for the launch of trans-European telecom services and 
applications. 
The confirmation of the feasibility, followed by the deployment of applications 
and services contributing to the strengthening of the internal market and job 
creation, in particular those offering to SMEs means to improve their 
competitiveness in the European Union and at world level. 
The identification, the confirmation of the feasibility, followed by the 
deployment of trans-European generic services providing a seamless access to 
all kind of information, including in rural and peripheral areas, and 
interoperable with equivalent services at world level. 
• The confirmation of the feasibility of new high-bandwith fibre optic backbone 
networks, where required for such applications and services, and the 
promotion of the interconnectivity of such networks. 
The identification and removal of gaps and missing links for an effective 
interconnection and interoperability in all their components of 
telecommunications networks in Europe and at world level, with a particular 
emphasis on IBC networks. 
Article 4 
The broad lines of measures to be implemented for reaching the objectives defined in 
article 2 will cover: 
Identification of Projects of Common Interest. 
Actions aiming at increasing the awareness of citizens, economic actors and 
administrations on the benefits they can draw from the new advanced trans-
European telecommunications services and applications. 
• Actions aiming at the stimulation of combined initiatives from the users and the 
providers for the launch of projects in the field of trans-European 
telecommunications networks, in particular IBC networks. 
• Support, in the framework of the means defined by the Treaty, to the 
confirmation of the feasibility, followed by the deployment of applications, in 
particular applications of collective interest, and encouragement to the 
establishment of public-private partnerships. 
^7 
• Stimulation of the offer and the use of services and applications for SMEs and 
professional users, which constitute a source of employment and growth. 
• Promotion of the interconnectivity of networks, of the interoperability of 
broadband services and applications and of the infrastructure they require, in 
particular for multimedia, and of the interoperability between existing and 
broadband services and applications. 
Article 5 
The development of trans-European telecommunications networks is made under this 
Decision by the implementation of Projects of Common Interest. The domains within 
which Projects of Common Interest shall be identified are listed in Annex 1. 
Article 6 
The following Articles 7 to 9 describe the procedure for identifying specific Projects of 
Common Interest in the domains indicated in annex 1, using the identification criteria 
listed in annex 2. The identified projects are eligible for Community support in compliance 
with the Council Regulation laying down general rules for the granting of Community 
financial aid in the field of trans-European networks. 
Article 7 
1. A Work Programme shall be drawn up by the Commission, in conformity with the 
other trans-European network policies, in consultation with sector actors,for selecting 
the areas in which specific Projects of Common Interest can be proposed, within the 
domains of Projects of Common Interest set out in annex 1. The Work Programme 
shall be updated as necessary. 
2. The Work Programme shall be the basis for the establishment of Calls for Proposals 
for Projects of Common Interest by the Commission 
Article 8 
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the procedure defined 
in articles 7 to 9. 
2. For the cases specified in Article 9 (I), the Commission shall be assisted by a 
Committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the 
representative of the Commission. 
The Commission representative shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures 
to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit 
which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The 
opinion shall be delivered by the majority provided for in Article 148(2) of the Treaty 
in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the 
Commission. The votes of the Member States' representatives within the Committee 
shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The Chairman shall not vote. 
z% 
The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged where they are in accordance 
with the opinion of the Committee. 
If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the Committee's opinion, or if 
no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall without delay submit to the Council a 
proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by qualified 
majority. 
If on expiry of a period of one month from referral of the matter to the Council, the 
latter has not acted, the proposed measure shall be adopted by the Commission. 
Article 9 
1. The procedure laid down in Article 8 shall apply to: 
• the preparation and updating of the Work Programme referred to in Article 7; 
the identification of Projects of Common Interest as a result of a Call for 
Proposals; 
• the definition of complementary support and coordination actions; 
• the measures to be taken to evaluate the implementation of the Work 
Programme. 
2. For the particular case of the domain of projects of common interest related to ISDN 
(referenced in annex 1, pt 3, 1st par.), the applicable guidelines are those adopted by 
the Council 15. 
3. The Commission shall inform the Committee, at each of its meetings, of the progress 
of the Work Programme implementation. 
Article 10 
Member States shall take all measures required at national, regional or local level to 
facilitate and accelerate the implementation of the projects of Common Interest, in the 
respect of Community rules. The authorisation procedures which may be necessary 
shall be achieved in the shortest delays. 
Article 11 
This Decision shall not prejudice anyfinancial commitment by a Member State or the 
Community. 
'* The common position adopted by the Council on the draft decision arc referenced : (CE) NT47/94 of 
22 decembcr 1994 (JO C384 of 31 dcccmbcr 1994, p29). 
23 
Article 12 
The participation of third countries, in particular those being parties to the agreement 
on European Economic Area, or having concluded an association agreement with the 
Community, can be authorised by the Council on a case by case basis, following the 
procedure laid down in Article 228 of the Treaty, in order to allow their contribution 
to the implementation of Projects of Common Interest, and to promote the 
interconnection and the interoperability of the telecommunications networks. 
Article 13 
The Commission shall present every two years a report on the implementation of this 
Decision to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions. 
The report shall contain an evaluation of the results achieved with Community 
support in different project fields, in relation to the overall objectives. 
Article 14 
This Decision enters into force on the seventh day following the day of its publication 
in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
Article 15 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the European Parliament For the Council 
The President The President 
3o 
Annex l: DOMAINS FOR PROJECTS OF COMMON INTEREST 
The trans-European telecommunications networks will open the European market to the 
new applications and services which are the ground upon which the information society 
should develop. They are essential to realise the objectives of safeguarding and promoting 
Europe's future prosperity and creating new jobs, as well as enhancing economic and 
social cohesion. . 
A three layer model has generally been accepted as the most appropriate framework for 
describing trans-European telecommunications networks. These layers are: 
The Applications layer, through which users interact with generic services 
and basic networks for meeting their professional, educational and social needs. 
Applications require to be interoperable between themselves to bring the maximum 
benefit to the users across the Community. 
The Generic Services layer, made of compatible generic services and their 
management. Through support of the applications common requirements, these 
services complement he applications whilst aiding their interoperability. 
The Basic networks layer, that provides the physical access, transport and 
switching elements of the networks, including their management and signalling. 
These elements are providing the trans-European network interconnectivity. 
These three layers form a consistent structure, where applications are supported by the 
two lower layers : generic services and basic networks. In particular, applications cannot 
be offered in the absence of one or the other two layers ; however, each layer should be 
sufficiently open as to support any element of the layer immediately above. In this context, 
Projects of Common Interest should be identified on the basis of their operational 
capability to support the objectives set forth in this Decision. 
This Decision aims at identifying a list of Projects of Common Interest, from which 
Projects which will benefit from the Community financial support under art.l29C.l, 
third indent, will be selected. This selection is made within the framework of the 
"Regulation laying down general principles for the granting of Community financial 
aid in the field of trans-European networks". 
The recourse to the other sources^ of Community financing remains open, within the 
financing rules governing each instrument for all the Projects of Common Interest 
16 These other sources arc: Fourth Framework RDT programme. Structural Funds. Cohesion Fund, 
European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund. These instruments are described in details 
in Annex 1 to the document "Methodology for the implementation of information society 
applications". 
31 
identified. Community financial support are granted in accordance with the competition 
policy rules, notably those dealing with the financial support of R&D and the state aids. 
The following sections are defining the domains in which Projects of common interest will 
be identified. 
I. Applications. 
The domains in which applications projects will be identified are the following : 
• A Network for universities and research centres : An advanced trans-
European network, carrying multimedia applications, should be established, linking 
universities and research centres across Europe, with open access to their libraries. 
• Distance education and training : Advanced distance education and 
training services should be made accessible for all citizens, schools, colleges and 
businesses. Centers should be set up and made remotely accessible across Europe 
in order to provide courseware and training services for SMEs, large companies, 
education systems, and public administrations. New approaches to professional 
training for the information society should be developed and promoted. 
• Health Telematics : Trans-European networks and applications based on 
common standards should be deployed, which would link on a European scale all 
the partners of the health system, in particular general practitioners, hospitals and 
social centres. 
• Transport Telematics : Full advantage should be taken of trans-European 
telecommunications networks to improve transport network management and 
logistical support for transport industries and the development of value-added 
services. Telematic systems and services, wherever applicable, should also serve as 
a tool for implementing Common Transport Policy; the necessary complementarity 
with and interoperability of the trans-European Transport Network will be 
ensured. 
• Telematics for environment : Trans-European networks can bring an 
important contribution to the monitoring and the management of the environment, 
including emergency management. 
• Televvorking : The development of teleworking (in homes and satellite 
offices) supported by advance communication systems will help provide new forms 
of flexibility in terms of the place of work and the way work is organised. Through 
the decentralisation of professional activities, teleworking can also help reduce the 
environmental consequences of daily commuting to population centers. 
• Telematic services for SMEs : Projects of common interest will support 
the use of trans-European telecommunications applications and services by 
European SMEs, with links to public authorities, trade associations, consumers, 
customers and suppliers and including information services and electronic 
3<2 
commerce. The awareness of telematics based solutions in general should be raised 
among SMEs. 
• Trans-European Network for Public Administrations : Interconnected 
networks between public administrations networks in Europe should be 
established, aiming at facilitating interchange of data between adminstrations, in 
particular when implementing European Union regulations providing an effective 
and less expensive information interchange. It should be further extended to link 
public administrations and European citizens. 
• Electronic tendering : A trans-European Electronic Tendering Network 
should be set up, based on electronic procedures for public procurement between 
public administrations and suppliers in Europe. 
• City information highways : Networks and services should be promoted 
interconnecting households, businesses, social organisations and administrations 
and providing access to on-line multi-media information, education, cultural, 
entertainment and tourism services on a local, regional, national and European 
basis. Links between city and regional networks should be promoted. 
• Library services : trans-European advanced nerworked library services 
involving all types of libraries (National, University/research, public etc.) should be 
deployed to provide effective access to both the reservoir of organised knowledge 
and the cultural wealth held in libraries across Europe, in support of the economic, 
social, educational and cultural life of the EU. 
• Telematic services for the job market. Networked services, such as job 
information databases, should be developed to support the changing labour market 
in Europe and to help tackle unemployment. 
• Cultural and linguistic heritage. Initiatives should be launched to foster 
the preservation of and access to the European cultural heritage, and to 
demonstrate the potential of the information infrastructure to support the 
development of local content in local languages. 
• Citizens' access to services. Applications demonstrating citizens' access to 
services of collective interest should be set up. Examples might include the 
establishment of kiosks and access points in public areas, and the use of smart 
cards and electronic wallets. 
2. Generic Services 
The domains in which projects of common interest for generic services networks will be 
identified are the following : 
• Implementation of operational trans-European generic services, which 
should include in particular electronic mail, file transfer systems, on-line access to 
electronic data bases, and video services. As there is an urgent need for these 
trans-European generic services, they will use existing switched basic networks 
and user access. They should include service elements operating at European scale, 
33 
protection and information security, trans-European "kiosk" and network 
navigational aids, etc. 
• Progressive extension of the generic services toward a multimedia 
environment.. These services will offer end-users access to multimedia services, 
and might cover, but should not be limited to, multi-media mail, high speed file 
transfer and video services, including Video-on-Demand. Use of these multimedia 
services by business and residential users should be encouraged, as well as the 
integration of new service elements such as automatic translation, speech 
recognition, graphical user interfaces. 
• Introduction of non-proprietary digital signature as a basis for open 
service provision and mobility of use : Generic services will rely on a large 
number of complementary and competing services providers. Open Service 
Provision and mobility of use will be of key importance and require electronic 
names (digital signatures) to be generally available and supported. 
3. Basic networks 
The domains in which projects of common interest for basic networks will be identified are 
the following : 
• Euro-integrated Services Digital Networks : for reasons of immediate 
commercial and technical trans-European availability, ISDN is today the most 
appropriate and efficient digital switched basic network that can support new 
services and applications. Its present development makes it an opportunity for 
Europe, and its market and geographical extension will be justified by the 
implementation of these new services and applications at pan-European scale. 
However, it should be borne in mind that ISDN is only a first step, and that it is 
going to evolve toward becoming merely a user access to broadband basic 
services. 
• Commercial introduction of managed Asynchroneous Transfer Mode 
(ATM) and other broadband networks : this domain must be considered as 
being of utmost common European interest. 
• Interoperation of existing and broadband communication networks : 
existing networks (for fixed, mobile and satellite services) should be 
interconnected and intemperate between themselves and with ATM-based high 
speed networks, in order to offer the most appropriate economic solutions to the 
various situations which will occur during the setting up of the information society. 
This issue is at the core of the development of the Integrated Broadband 
Communications network, and is particularly relevant for SMEs, as well as for the 
professional and residential markets. 
4. Support and Coordination Actions 
In addition to its support to projects of common interest, the Community should initiate 
actions aiming at providing the appropriate environment. They will contribute to 
^ 
consensus development and concertation of national and regional activities for stimulation 
and promotion of new applications and services in conformity with the implementation of 
programs in other areas, as well as the development of broadband basic networks. They 
will involve concertation with European standardisation and strategic planning bodies *', 
co-ordination with actions funded by the different Community financial instruments. This 
includes : 
• Development of target specifications, and transition towards these 
targets. These specifications will support sector actors to make sound economic 
investment decisions. This will be done in consultation with all sector actors, 
including telecommunication operators, cable operators, emerging operators, 
service providers, trade associations and consumer associations for: 
- identifying the missing elements and the bottlenecks in the Trans-European 
telecommunications networks 
- developing the target networks specifications for the three identified 
network layers. This includes terrestrial, satellite, mobile, as well as 
management and operation on a European scale. Sector actors will build on 
the RACE and Telematics Programme Common Functional Specifications, the 
EURESCOM work and other technical bodies set-up by sector actors, and the 
results of broadband trials underway as well as the results of the ESPRIT and 
IT programmes. 
- developing the network evolution towards the target networks, and 
- encouraging the development of open, interoperable and user friendly 
systems. 
• Definition of means to access broadband networks, at the three 
specified layers. 
• Establishment of common specifications, based on European and world 
standards. 
• Furthering the cooperation among sector actors, in particular the 
emerging and fragmented operators, such as cable television networks, as well as 
with users. 
• Cooperation and co-ordination with Community, European and 
national programmes. 
17 ETSI, CEN/CENELEC. EURESCOM and ETNO 
Is 
Annex 2 
Identification criteria. 
The identification of Projects of Common Interest among the projects presented by 
interested sector actors in response to a Call for Proposal as mentioned in Article 7 is 
made on the basis of their compliance with the objectives and priorities laid down in 
Articles 2 and 3 respectively. These projects shall be transnational with special emphasis 
on projects of an interregional nature. 
In addition, the economic and financial criteria spelt out in the "Regulation laying down 
the general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European 
networks" shall be taken into account. These criteria, which will be used in the framework 
of this Regulation to decide on the granting of a financial support to a specific project, are: 
- the potential economic viability of the project, which should be assured 
- the maturity of the project 
- the stimulative effect of Community intervention on public and private financing 
- the effectiveness of the financial package 
- the direct or indirect socio-economic effects, in particular on employment 
- the consequences for environment. 
- specially for transborder projects, coordination of the timing of the different parts of a 
project. 
6<£ 
BACKGROUND NOTE ON THE IMPACT ON SMEs AND EMPLOYMENT 
PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL ON A 
SERIES OF GUIDELINES FOR TRANS-EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS 
The draft Decision sets out to stimulate the implementation of the new services and new 
applications of the information society, and in particular those which are of collective 
interest, in accordance with the procedures stipulated in Title XII of the Treaty for 
supporting the development of trans-European telecommunications networks. The draft 
Decision defines the guidelines for the constitution of a list of projects of common interest 
which could potentially benefit from Community financial support provided through the 
various instruments available. 
1. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) which make proposals of a 
transnational nature and request financial assistance within this context should 
demonstrate the economic viability of the project in a business plan. Companies 
will also have to show the direct and indirect effects of their projects, in particular 
in terms of employment and the environment. 
2. Economic development, especially at the local and regional levels, depends on the 
rapid deployment of high performance trans-European telecommunications 
networks. They will foster the creation of new markets comprising of services and 
applications of the information society, whose development will largely depend on 
the dynamism of SMEs who tend to be particularly innovative in the 
communications sector. The draft Decision includes coordination and support 
actions encouraging the participation of SMEs. Included among the application 
fields eligible for Community support are the implementation of telematic links 
between SMEs, but also the launch of distance professional training services and 
teleworking facilities of particular interest to SMEs. 
3. The draft Decision will have no negative impacts on SMEs. 
4. The stimulation of new activities gives rise to the direct creation of jobs, notably 
within such firms as electronic service providers and software suppliers which are 
often SMEs. Jobs will also be created indirectly within other sectors of the 
economy depending on rates of diffusion of productivity and revenue gains. 
5. The principle of the draft Decision was announced in the Communication of the 
Commission "Europe's Way to the Information Society: an Action Plan" 
(COM(94) 347). This document is and has been the subject of a number of 
different reports produced by other parliamentary institutions (EP, ECOSOC), and 
representative organisations. 
6. The chosen approach is based on the establishment of an overall framework for the 
possible allocation of Community support. Community action is guided by the 
desire for transparency and aims to encourage those companies and organisations 
which are interested to develop activities in the field of the applications and 
services of the European information society. 

3} ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 224 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 16 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-252-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-89396-6 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg