2002/622/EC: Commission Decision of 26 July 2002 establishing a Radio Spectrum Policy Group (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2002-07-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU office or agency, European Commission, European audiovisual area, consultancy

27.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 198/49

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 26 July 2002

establishing a Radio Spectrum Policy Group

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/622/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

technical parameters but

The Group should contribute to the development of a
radio spectrum policy in the Community that takes into
account not only
also
economic, political, cultural, strategic, health and social
considerations,
the various potentially
as
conflicting needs of radio spectrum users with a view to
ensuring that a fair, non-discriminatory and propor-
tionate balance is achieved.

as well

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory
framework for radio spectrum policy in the European
Community (1) (hereinafter the Radio Spectrum Decision)
establishes a policy and legal framework in the Commu-
nity for radio spectrum policy so as to ensure the coordi-
nation of policy approaches and, where appropriate,
harmonised conditions with regard to the availability
and efficient use of the radio spectrum necessary for the
establishment and functioning of the internal market in
Community policy areas such as electronic communica-
tions, transport and Research and Development.

The Radio Spectrum Decision recalls that the Commis-
sion may organise consultations in order to take into
account the views of Member States, Community institu-
tions, industry and of all radio spectrum users involved,
both commercial and non-commercial, as well as of
other interested parties on technological, market and
regulatory developments which may relate to the use of
radio spectrum.

A consultative group to be called the Radio Spectrum
Policy Group (hereinafter the Group) should be estab-
lished. The Group should assist and advise the Commis-
sion on radio spectrum policy issues such as radio spec-
trum availability, harmonisation and allocation of radio
spectrum, provision of information concerning alloca-
tion, availability and use of radio spectrum, methods for
granting rights to use spectrum, refarming, relocation,
valuation and efficient use of radio spectrum as well as
protection of human health.

(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 1.

(5)

(6)

(7)

The Group should gather high-level governmental
experts from the Member States and a high level repre-
sentative of
the Commission. The Group could also
include observers and invite other persons to attend
meetings as appropriate, including regulators, competi-
tion authorities, market participants, user or consumer
groups. The Group should therefore allow cooperation
between Member States and the Commission in such a
way as to contribute to the development of the internal
market.

As the focal point for addressing radio spectrum policy
issues in the context of all relevant Community policies,
links should be maintained between
close operational
the Group and specific groups or committees established
for the implementation of sectoral Community policies
including transport policy,
internal market policy for
radio equipment, audiovisual policy, space policy, and
communications.

The Radio Spectrum Decision has created a Radio Spec-
trum Committee to assist
the Commission in the
elaboration of binding implementing measures addres-
sing harmonised conditions for the availability and effi-
cient use of radio spectrum. The work of the Group
should not interfere with the work of the Committee.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

27.7.2002

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

In order to guarantee effective discussions, each national
delegation attending the Group should have a consoli-
dated and coordinated national view of all policies which
affect the use of radio spectrum in that Member State in
relation not only to the internal market but also to
public order, public security, civil protection and defence
policies as the use of radio spectrum for such policies
may influence the organisation of radio spectrum as a
whole. At present, different national government depart-
the
ments have responsibility over different parts of
radio spectrum.

The Group should consult extensively and in a forward-
looking manner on technological, market and regulatory
developments relating to the use of radio spectrum with
all radio spectrum users involved, both commercial and
non-commercial, as well as with any other interested
parties.

The use of radio spectrum does not stop at borders and
given the forthcoming accession of additional Member
States, the Group may be opened to these countries and
to countries which are members of
the European
Economic Area.

CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommuni-
cations administrations, comprising 44 European coun-
tries) should be invited as observer with the work of the
Group considering the impact of the activities of the
Group on radio spectrum at a pan-European level and
considering the technical expertise gained by CEPT and
its affiliate bodies in radio spectrum management. It is
also appropriate to draw on such expertise on the basis
of mandates to be granted pursuant to the Radio Spec-
trum Decision in view to the development of technical
implementing measures in the areas of radio spectrum
allocation and information availability. In view of the
importance of European standardisation for the develop-
ment of equipment using radio spectrum, it is likewise
important to associate as observer the European Tele-
communications Standardisation Institute (ETSI),

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 3

Membership

The Group shall be composed of one high level governmental
expert from each Member State as well as of a high-level repre-
sentative from the Commission.

The Commission shall provide the secretariat to the Group.

Article 4

Operational arrangements

At the Commission’s request or at its own initiative, the Group
shall adopt opinions to be addressed to the Commission, upon
consensus or, if not possible, on the basis of a simple majority,
each member having one vote except the Commission which
shall not vote. Dissenting opinions shall be attached to the
adopted opinions. Observers may participate in the deliberation
but shall not vote.

The Group shall elect a chairperson from among its members.
The Commission may organise the work of the Group into
subgroups and expert working groups as appropriate.

The Commission shall convene the meetings of the Group
through the secretariat in agreement with the chairperson. The
Group shall adopt its rules of procedure upon a proposal from
the Commission, by consensus or, in the absence of consensus,
by a two-thirds majority vote, one vote being expressed per
Member State, subject to the approval of the Commission.

The Group may invite observers,
including those from EEA
States and those States that are candidates for accession to the
European Union, as well as from the European Parliament,
CEPT and ETSI, to attend its meetings and it may hear experts
and interested parties.

Article 5

Consultation

Article 1

Subject matter

The Group shall consult extensively and at an early stage with
market participants, consumers and end-users in an open and
transparent manner.

An advisory group on radio spectrum policy, called the Radio
Spectrum Policy Group (hereinafter referred to as the Group), is
hereby established.

Article 2

Aims

The Group shall assist and advise the Commission on radio
spectrum policy issues, on coordination of policy approaches
and, where appropriate, on harmonised conditions with regard
to the availability and efficient use of radio spectrum necessary
for the establishment and functioning of the internal market.

Article 6

Confidentiality

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 287 of the
Treaty, where the Commission informs them that the opinion
requested or the question raised is on a matter of a confidential
nature, members of the Group as well as observers and any
other person attending shall be under an obligation not to
disclose information which has come to their knowledge
through the work of
its subgroups or expert
working groups. The Commission may decide in such cases
that only members of the Group may be present at meetings.

the Group,

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 198/51

Article 7

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Communities.

The Group shall take up its duties on the date of entry into force of this Decision.

Done at Brussels, 26 July 2002.

For the Commission

Erkki LIIKANEN

Member of the Commission