Opinion on:

- the communication from the Commission related to the development of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) as a trans-European Network,

- the proposal for a Council Decision on a series of guidelines for the development of ISDN as a trans-European network, and

- the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multi-annual Community action concerning the development of ISDN as a trans-European network (1)

(94/C 217/05)

On 3 March 1994 the Council of the European Union decided to consult the Committee of the Regions, under Article 198c of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposals.

At its third Plenary Session (meeting of 17 May 1994), the Committee of the Regions unanimously adopted the following Opinion prepared by the Rapporteur-General, Mr Soeren Andersen.

1. Introduction

1.1. EURO-ISDN is a communications network which allows data to be made available anywhere at very low cost. EURO-ISDN can therefore provide the technological basis for a radical overhaul of administrative procedures and functions.

1.2. The development of a trans-European ISDN telecommunications network is crucial to:

- the smooth operation of the internal market;

- Europe's position on world markets;

- economic and social cohesion in the EU;

- efficient cooperation with the EEA countries.

1.3. The Committee notes that the ISDN is already operating on a commercial basis in eight Member States. The Committee regrets, however, that the proposed services are not technically aligned because national system designers did not cooperate closely enough. The Committee alerts the Commission and the Council to the sometimes detrimental impact of competition between businesses within Member States and between Member States on such a key technology as ISDN.

1.4. This policy undermines the position of European Union operators vis-à-vis their international competitors, i.e. USA, Japan and Canada.

2. The Committee of the Regions' comments

2.1. The Committee emphasizes the importance of connecting outlying regions and underdeveloped areas to the EURO-ISDN. Any delay by one or more Member States would be detrimental to the objective of economic and social cohesion. The COR also calls upon the Commission to involve the central and eastern European countries in the development and extension of ISDN.

2.2. It is also important that investment in EURO-ISDN and the participating systems is organized so as to enable public authorities and service suppliers to see clearly the economic benefit of introducing EURO-ISDN. This will ensure a high-volume market.

2.3. The Committee shares the Commission's view (a) that EURO-ISDN is an important instrument for ensuring that the internal market functions smoothly, and (b) that EURO-ISDN is particularly vital for SMEs. Economic cohesion must, however, go hand in hand with social cohesion.

2.4. Active consideration should therefore be given to the concept of citizens as EURO-ISDN users. The COR can well imagine a scenario in which EURO-ISDN use by EU citizens is as extensive as that of SMEs taken as a whole - e.g. for training, dealing with public bodies, financial institutions and other organizations, tourism and other leisure activities.

2.5. As the representatives of local and regional authorities, we can see a clear advantage to be gained from this - not least in relation to IDA, the trans-European network between administrations.

3. Multi-annual Community actions

To ensure sufficiently rapid growth within EURO-ISDN and ancillary industries, one of the essential Community actions should be to identify the most promising applications of EURO-ISDN as soon as possible. The Commission should give priority to supporting the rapid development of these applications.

4. Conclusions

4.1. The Committee of the Regions agrees with the Commission's conclusions and endorses the two draft Council Decisions, subject to the comments made above.

4.2. To sum up, the Committee wishes to point out that:

- ISDN investment should be economically viable at regional level;

- the Commission should identify in which areas EURO-ISDN brings the largest possible profits with the lowest possible input. These areas should be given priority with a view to creating a highly competitive European industry;

- priority should be given to outlying regions;

- it is crucial to incorporate citizen-orientated systems in those areas where ISDN operates.

Done at Brussels, 17 May 1994.

The Chairman

of the Committee of the Regions

Jacques BLANC

(1) OJ No C 259, 23. 9. 1993, p. 4-6.