Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

**COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES**

Brussels, 20.03.1996
COM(96) 108 final

95/0124 (COD)

**Amended proposal for a**

**EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION**

**on a series of guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks**

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2)
of the EC-Treaty)

#### **EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM**

**1.** **Introduction**

1.1 On 31 May 1995 the Commission adopted a proposal for a European Parliament and
Council Decision on a series of guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks
(COM(95)224 final). This proposal was submitted to the European Parliament and the Council
on 8 June 1995.

1.2 The Economic and Social Committee endorsed the proposal on 22 November 1995.

1.3 The Council reached agreement on the proposal on 27 November 1995.

1.4 The Committee of the Regions endorsed the proposal on 18 January 1996.

1.5 The European Parliament adopted its opinion on first reading on 1 February 1996. This
proposed 35 amendments to the text originally proposed by the Commission.

1.6 The Commission can accept 13 of these amendments, 5 others in part and 4 more in
principle. It is unable to accept the remaining 13 amendments.

1.7 The reasons which prompted the Commission to take these positions on the
amendments are explained in Section 3 below. The full text of the original proposal (left-hand
column) is set out alongside the full text of the amended proposal (right-hand column) in Annex
1.

**2.** **Objective of the proposal**

The objective of this proposal is for the European Parliament and Council to adopt, following
the codecision procedure, a series of guidelines (as provided for by Article 129c of the Treaty
on European Union) covering the objectives, priorities and broad lines of measures envisaged
and the domains for projects of common interest in the field of trans-European
telecommunications networks. In the domains for projects of common interest identified in
Annex 1 to the Decision, it is proposed that the Commission publish calls for proposals in order
to select specific projects of common interest, with the assistance of a type Ilia committee, based
on a work programme updated whenever necessary (probably every year).

The proposal gives priority to applications of collective interest where, in the context of opening
up the sector to competition, public intervention, particularly in the form of encouraging
partnerships between the public and private sectors, can provide citizens, businesses and
administrations in the Community with a series of instruments needed for them to enter the
information society.

**3.** **Commission's position on the amendments proposed by the** **European** **Parliament on**
**first reading**

**3.1** **Amendments accepted**

The Commission accepts amendments 1, 2 (first part), 3, 4, 7 (first part), 10, 11 (with one minor
amendment), 15, 16 (first part), 20, 22 (with one minor amendment), 24, 25, 26, 27 (first part),
28, 31 (first part) and 34.

Amendment 1 clarifies the first recital and calls for particular attention to be paid to SMEs and
the less developed or peripheral regions.

The first part of amendment 2 stresses the importance of the Euro-ISDN which is the network
on which the trans-European applications will be deployed in the immediate future.

Amendment 3 adds a new recital rightly stressing the need for coordination with other initiatives.
This need is also echoed in point 4 of Annex 1.

Amendment 4 improves the original wording to render the same idea.

The first part of amendment 7 puts the accent on real needs not covered by mere market forces;
these correspond to the applications of collective interest for which priority is proposed.

Amendments 10 and 15 bring the text closer to the wording of the Treaty.

Amendment 11 is a useful addition; only the word "technical" to describe the transition towards
the information society must be deleted, as it is overrestrictive.

The first part of amendment 16 is justified as it clarifies the real nature of the work programme
prepared by the Commission at this stage.

Amendment 20 provides a reminder that the guidelines applicable to Euro-ISDN are adopted by
the European Parliament and the Council.

The first part of amendment 22 is acceptable since the text deleted has been moved to
amendment 23. The second part rightly stresses the importance of providing non-proprietary
tools for development of new applications. However, it seems unrealistic to require the generic
services to provide such tools. It is therefore proposed to replace "providing" by "promoting".

Amendment 24 is a useful addition to the point on "distance education and training".

Amendment 25 adds to the point on "transport telematics" the domains which Parliament gave
priority when adopting the provisions on the trans-European transport network.

Amendment 26 draws attention to important social aspects of teleworking.

The first part of amendment 27 (excluding "gradual approximation of conditions and terms of
employment" which appears unrealistic) is a useful addition to the point on "telematic services
for the job market".

Amendment 28 is a useful addition to the point on "cultural and linguistic heritage".

The first part of amendment 31 rightly extends the media which can be used for generic services
to include emerging fixed or mobile networks.

Amendment 34 is an acceptable simplification.

**3.2** **Amendments acceptable in principle**

Amendments 6, 8, 23 and 35 (second part) are acceptable in principle. The proposal is to adopt
the ideas in more appropriate form.

Amendment 6 stresses (although the wording can be improved) the need for coordination
between Community programmes and that the projects of common interest are projects to
produce applications (which, although well-founded, must not preclude a demonstration or
validation phase before moving on to full deployment of the project to check in a limited, but
representative geographical area that the application actually provides the service expected in
conditions economically acceptable to users). Recital 16 therefore now reads:

_'Whereas effective coordination needs to be ensured between the_ _**implementation**_ _of the trans-_
_European telecommunications_ _networks, which must address_ _**real-world concerns,**_ _**excluding**_
_**experimental projects,**_ _and the different Community programmes,_ _particularly_ _the specific_
_programmes of the fourth framework programme for research, technological_ _development_ _and_
_demonstration,_ _the programmes_ _in favour of SMEs and with information content_ _oriented_
_programmes_ _(such as INFO 2000, Media 2) and other information society activities._ "

Amendment 8 mentions the need to use, on a synergetic basis, all appropriate forms of aid for
TEN activities, as advocated by the Commission in the fifth paragraph of Annex 1. Since
references are made elsewhere in the text to the Structural Funds, the benefits for the internal

market and strengthening industrial competitiveness and economic and social cohesion, repetition
of these points here only complicates the text. The proposal is therefore to amend recital 19 to

read:

" ... of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks; _whereas,_ _nevertheless,_
_use should also be made, on_ _a_ _synergetic basis and in line with their specific rules, of the_
_Community financial instruments which can favour implementation of the lines of action in the_
_sphere of trans-European telecommunications networks, with_ _a_ _view to deriving maximum benefit_
_from coordination of the different sources of funding; whereas, following the_ _abovementioned_
_Regulation, the concerned Member State shall give_ ..."

Amendment 23 includes points deleted by amendments 22 and 29 and applies to all applications.
This idea is acceptable, but the part on local languages must leave open the possibility of access
to non-professional services in a language other than the local language. Also, it is not possible
to assess the social and societal impact of each application (see the comments on amendment
12, point 2 in section 3.3 below) and this section is therefore too binding. Under the
circumstances, the amendment accepted reads:

_"Applications_ _must_ _**take account, where necessary, of local**_ _**linguistic**_ _**constraints**_ _and be_
_interoperable_ _between themselves_ _to bring the maximum benefit to the users across the_
_Communiiv._ _Thev must address the widest possible populations of users and_ _**facilitate**_ _users'_
_access to services of collective_ _interest."_

The second part of amendment 35 adds a definition of the "transnational" nature of the projects
which was included, in more appropriate form, in a declaration made by the Commission during
the negotiations within the Council. The proposal is to amend Parliament's proposal as follows:

"... Article 3. _These_ _projects must be transnational in the sense that they shall be conceived to_
_satisfy needs existing in_ _**several Member States**_ _and_ _to be implemented in_ _**several Member**_
_**States.**_ _This does not prevent the initial phase of their deployment, designed to check the_
_technical and commercial viability of_ _the_ _project, from being carried out in a single Member_
_State, if it appears that the conditions prevailing in_ _this_ _Member State are representative of those_
_existing in the other Member States where the project should ultimately be_ _implemented._ "

**3.3** **Amendments which cannot be accepted**

These are amendments 2 (second part), 5, 7 (second part), 9, 12, 13, 14, 16 (second part), 17,
18, 19, 21, 27 (second part), 29, 30, 31 (second part), 32, 33 and 35 (first part).

The second part of amendment 2 indicating the nature of the project selection criteria is
superfluous since the criteria are specified in Annex 2.

Amendment 5 suggests that broadband networks will not be available until the distant future;
this is incorrect, even though they are still far from generally available.

The second part of amendment 7. amendments 17. 18 and 21 and the final sentence of
amendment 16 amend the committee procedure proposed and deviate from the _modus_ _vivendi_
between the three institutions. The Commission proposes to keep to this agreement. A new
recital 18a has therefore been added reading:

"Whereas on 20 December 1994 the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission
reached a _modus vivendi_ concerning the implementing measures for acts adopted in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the EC Treaty";

The first part of amendment 9 is contrary to the Community's traditional approach to
interoperability, which recommends voluntary standards with regulation only at a later stage if
the voluntary approach proves to generate interoperability problems at trans-European level. The
final part makes the scope of this recital too general.

Amendment 12 calls for a number of comments:

1. The setting **of an order of priority within the list of priorities is unacceptable** in view
of the flexibility which must be maintained in order to adapt to the situation of the sector and
to the rapid development of the communications system when preparing the annual work

programme.

2. The amendments at the start of paragraphs (a) and (c) require systematic assessment of the
social consequences before any deployment of generic services and applications. It should be
noted that the identification criteria (Annex 2) include the direct or indirect socio-economic
effects of each project. It does not seem possible to go beyond this and assess the social and
societal effects of each **project** (as far as this would make any sense). It is more appropriate to
monitor the more general impact by assessing the effect of a series of applications introduced
over a specified period, whatever the origin. Moreover, the amendment at the end of paragraph

(c) deals with specific applications, which belong in Annex 1 and not in an article concerning
the general priorities.

3. As regards the new paragraph (h), the conditions for cooperation with third countries are set
out in Article 12. Such cooperation must be considered an advantage for some projects, but not
a systematic priority.

As regards amendment 13. the comment made on the second part of amendment 1 applies.

Amendment 14 mentions improvement of communication in the sphere of public administration.
However, this is not a general measure but a domain for action, which, logically, belongs in
Annex 1.

The addition before the final sentence of amendment 16 calls for the work programme to
identify specific measures according to social or regional criteria to integrate individuals into all
domains of the information society. This manifestly imposes an extremely ambitious objective,
which is not the purpose of the work programme.

Amendment 19 defines the substance of the support and coordination activities which, more
logically, come under point 4 in Annex 1.

The second part of amendment 27 is unrealistic. To harmonize conditions of employment in the
Community, measures other than any effects of the use of trans-European telematics services for
job hunting are needed.

Amendment 29 deleting the point on "Citizens' access to services" is unacceptable; this domain
is of great social importance.

Amendment 30 adds applications already covered by Annex 1, either under point 1 on research
networks or under point 2 on generic services.

The second part of amendment 31 adds unnecessary details.

Amendment 32 duplicates amendment 22 which applies to all generic services.

Amendment 33 adds unnecessary details.

The first part of amendment 35 introduces oversubjective selection criteria (exemplarity and
value as an incentive and a multiplier).

4. Conclusion

The Commission recommends that Parliament and the Council approve the amended proposal
set out in Annex 1.

**Amended proposal for a** **Annex 1**

**EUROPEAN** **PARLIAMENT** **AND COUNCIL DECISION**
**on a series of guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks**

**Original proposal** **Amended proposal**

##### `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 Article 129d thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the
Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the
Economic and Social Committee,

Having regard to the opinion of the
Committee of the Regions,

1. 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:

Unchanged.

1. 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 enable citizens and
industry - especially SMEs - in the Union to
derive full benefit from the potential of
telecommunications so as to make possible
the establishment of the "information

society", in which the development of
applications, services and telecommunications
networks will be of crucial importance with
a view to ensuring the availability, for each
citizen, company or public authority
everywhere in the Union, including the less
developed or peripheral regions, of any kind
and quantity of information they need;

2. Whereas, in the 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
recognized by the Brussels European Council
of December 1993;

3. 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, organizations 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
Union level;

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

4. Whereas the implementation and the Unchanged,
development of trans-European
telecommunications networks should ensure

that information is freely exchanged between
individuals, organizations and
administrations, while respecting the privacy
rights of individuals and intellectual and
industrial property rights;

5. Whereas, in June 1994, in their report on Unchanged.
"Europe and the global information society",
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;

6. Whereas the communication of the Unchanged.
Commission to the Council and the European

Parliament "Europe's way to the Information
Society: an Action Plan", follows these
recommendations; whereas the conclusions of
the Industry-Telecommunications Council
meeting on 28 September 1994 on this action
plan stressed the fact that the rapid
development of efficient information
infrastructures (networks, services and
applications) on the basis of a global,
coherent and balanced approach is
indispensable to Europe;

7. Whereas Article 129c of the Treaty Unchanged,
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;

8. Whereas the information society cannot Unchanged,
develop without the availability of
applications, and especially applications of
collective interest, optimally answering 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;

9. 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;

9. Whereas projects of common interest can,
in many cases, already be implemented in the
present telecommunications networks,
especially the Euro-ISDN, in order to offer
trans-European applications; whereas
guidelines have to be drawn up, in order to
identify these projects of common interest;

9a. 9a. Whereas there must be coordination
between the implementation of the proposals
chosen and similar initiatives adopted at
national or regional level in the Union;

10. Whereas in the selection and

implementation of such projects account
should be taken of both infrastructures

offered by telecommunications organizations
as well as alternative infrastructures offered

by other provi ders;

10. Whereas in the selection and

implementation of such projects account
should be taken of all infrastructures offered

by incumbent and new providers;

11. 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 network; whereas the
Council has reached a common position on
this proposal;

12. 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;

13. Whereas the results of the specific
research and technological development
programme in the field of communication
technologies (RACE) have prepared the
ground and the technology base for the
introduction of IBC networks in Europe;

14. Whereas the results of the specific
research and technological development
programme on information technologies
(Esprit) have prepared the ground and the
technological base for the introduction of
applications of information technologies;

15. Whereas the results of the specific
research and technological development
programmes in the field of telematics
systems of general interest (1991 to 1994)
and telematics applications of common
interest (1994 to 1998) prepare the ground
for the introduction of interoperable
applications of common interest across
Europe;

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

10

16. Whereas effective coordination needs to

be ensured between the different Community
programmes, and in particular as appropriate,
with programmes in favour of SMEs and
with information content oriented

programmes (such as INFO 2000. Media 2)
and other information society activities:

17. Whereas in its communication on

"Preparatory actions in the field of TransEuropean 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
results of these actions form the basis for the

guidelines related to IBC networks in this
Decision;

18. Whereas the telecommunications sector is

being progressively liberalized; whereas the
development of trans-European applications,
services and networks relies mainly on
private initiative; whereas these transEuropean 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
chosen domains; whereas these procedures
have to be defined and a list of the chosen

domains has to be adopted; whereas a
Committee shall assist the Commission for

the identification of the specific projects of
common interest;

18a.

16. Whereas effective coordination needs to

be ensured between the implementation of
the trans-European telecommunications
networks, which must address real-world
concerns, excluding experimental projects,
and the different Community programmes,
particularly the specific programmes of the
fourth framework programme for research,
technological development and
demonstration, the programmes in favour of
SMEs and with information content oriented

programmes (such as INFO 2000, Media 2)
and other information society activities;

Unchanged.

18. Whereas the telecommunications sector is

being progressively liberalized; whereas the
development of trans-European applications,
services and networks relies mainly on
private initiative; whereas these transEuropean developments must respond on a
Community scale to market needs or to
actual and sizeable needs of society which
are not covered by mere market forces:
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 chosen domains;
whereas these procedures have to be defined
and a list of the chosen domains has to be

adopted; whereas a Committee shall assist
the Commission for the identification of the

specific projects of common interest;

18a. Whereas on 20 December 1994 the
European Parliament, the Council and the
Commission reached a _modus_ _vivendi_
concerning the implementing measures for
acts adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 189b of the
EC Treaty:

11

19. 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 transEuropean networks; whereas following this
Regulation, the concerned Member States
shall give a certain degree of support to the
projects of common interest;

20. 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;

21. 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;

22. 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,

19. 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 transEuropean networks (Council Regulation (EC)
No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995): whereas,
nevertheless, use should also be made, on a
synergetic basis and in line with their
specific rules, of the Community financial
instruments which can favour implementation
of the lines of action in the sphere of transEuropean telecommunications networks, with
a view to deriving maximum benefit from
coordination of the different sources of

funding: whereas following the
abovementioned Regulation, the concerned
Member States shall give a certain degree of
support to the projects of common interest;

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

12

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

_Article 1_

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.

This Decision establishes guidelines covering
objectives, priorities and broad lines of
measures in the field of trans-European
networks in the area of telecommunications

infrastructure. 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 settingup 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 economic and social
cohesion,

accelerating the development of new
growth area activities leading to job
creation.

The Community will support the
interconnection of the networks in the area of

telecommunications infrastructure, the
establishment and the development of
interoperable services and applications as
well as the access to them, with the general
objectives of:

facilitating the transition towards the
information society as well as providing
experience on the effects of the
deployment of new networks and
applications on social activities and 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 economic and social
cohesion,

accelerating the development of new
growth area activities leading to job
creation.

_Article 3_

The priorities for the realization of the
objectives mentioned in Article 2 will be:

Unchanged.

13

The confirmation of the feasibility,
followed by the deployment of
applications supporting the development
of a Community Information Society, in
particular applications of collective
interest.

The confirmation of the feasibility,
followed by the deployment of
applications contributing to economic and
social cohesion, by improving access to
information across the whole Union

building on the Community's cultural
diversity.

Actions aiming at the stimulation of
interregional initiatives, associating less
favoured regions for the launch of
Community 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 servi ces providing
a seamless access to all kinds of

information, including in rural and
peripheral areas, and interoperable with
equivalent services at world level.

The confirmation of the feasibility of new
high-bandwidth fibre optic backbone
networks, where required for such
applications and services, and the
promotion 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 the Community and at world
level, with a particular emphasis on IBC
networks.

14

_Article 4_

The broad lines of measures to be Unchanged,
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 for the establishment of
public-private partnerships.

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.

15

_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.

The development of trans-European networks
in the area of telecommunications

infrastructure 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 transEuropean networks.

Unchanged.

_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.

1. A draft work programme shall be
prepared 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.

Unchanged.

_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(1),
the Commission shall be assisted by a
committee composed of representatives of the
Member States and chaired by the
representative of the Commission.

Unchanged.

16

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.

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 Unchanged,
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 2. For the particular case of the domain
projects of common interest related to ISDN of projects of common interest related to

**17**

(referenced in Annex 1, point 3, paragraph Euro-ISDN (referenced in Annex 1, point 3,
1), the applicable guidelines are those paragraph 1), the applicable guidelines are
adopted by the Council. those adopted by the European Parliament
and the Council.

3. The Commission shall inform the Unchanged,
committee, at each of its meetings, of the
progress of the work programme
implementation.

_Article 10_

Member States shall take all measures Unchanged.
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
authorization procedures which may be
necessary shall be achieved in the shortest
delays.

_Article_ _11_

This Decision shall not prejudice any Unchanged,
financial commitment by a Member State or
the Community.

_Article 12_

The participation of third countries, in Unchanged.
particular those being parties to the
Agreement on the European Economic Area,
or having concluded an Association
Agreement with the Community, can be
authorized 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 Unchanged,
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 shall enter into force on the Unchanged,
seventh day following its publication in the
Official Journal of the European
Communities.

_Article 15_

This Decision is addressed to the Member Unchanged.
States.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

19

**ANNEX 1: 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
realize 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 the applications
whilst aiding their interoperability.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

The **applications** layer, through which
users interact with generic services and
basic networks for meeting their
professional, educational and social needs.

The **generic services** layer, made of
compatible generic services and their
management. Through support of the
applications common requirements and by
promoting common non-proprietary tools
for development and implementation of
new applications. these services
complement the applications whilst aiding
their interoperability.

The **basic networks** layer, that provides Unchanged.
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 Unchanged.
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 of
the other two layers; however, each layer

should be sufficiently open as to support any

**20**

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**
**Article 129c(l), third indent, of the EC**
**Treaty,** **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".**

Unchanged.

The recourse to the other sources of Unchanged.
Community financing remains open, within
the financing rules governing each instrument
for all the projects of common interest
identified. Community financial support is
granted in accordance with competition
policy rules, notably those dealing with the
financial support of R&D and State aids.

The following sections define the domains in Unchanged.
which projects of common interest will be

identified.

**1.** **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.

**1.** **Applications**

Applications must take account, where
necessary, of local linguistic constraints and
be interoperable between themselves to bring
the maximum benefit to the users across the

Community. They must address the widest
possible populations of users and facilitate
users' access to services of collective interest.

The domains in which applications projects
will be identified are the following:

Unchanged.

21

**Distance education and training.** Advanced
distance education and training services
should be made accessible for all citizens,
schools, colleges and businesses. Centres
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 t a k e n of t r a n s - E u r o p e a n
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.

**T e l e m a t i c s** **for** **e n v i r o n m e n t :**

Trans-European networks can bring an
important contribution to the monitoring and
the management of the environment,
including emergency management.

Teleworking: The development of
teleworking (in homes and satellite offices)
supported by advanced communication
systems will help provide new forms of
flexibility in terms of the place of work and
the way work is organized. Through the
decentralization of professional activities,
teleworking can also help reduce the

**Distance education and training:** Advanced
distance education and training services
should be made accessible for all citizens,
schools, colleges and businesses. Centres
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
general, academic, professional and linguistic
training should be developed and promoted
as part of the transition towards the
information society.

Unchanged.

**Transport telematics:** Full advantage should
be t a k e n of t r a n s - E u r o p e a n
telecommunications networks to improve
transport network management and logistical
support for transport industries and the
development of value-added services.
Integrated multimodal transport, nonmotorized personal transport, public transport
and environment-friendly modes shall be
treated as a priority. 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.

Unchanged.

Teleworking. The development of
teleworking in satellite offices and
conceivably in homes supported by advanced
communication systems will help provide
new forms of flexibility in terms of the place
of work and the way work is organized.
Through the decentralization of professional
activities, teleworking can also help reduce

**22**

environmental consequences of daily
commuting to population centres.

**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 commerce. The awareness of

telematics-based solutions in general should
be raised among SMEs.

**Trans-European** **Network** **for** **Public**
**Administration:** Interconnected networks

between public administration networks in
Europe should be established, aiming at
facilitating interchange of data between
administrations, in particular when
implementing European Union regulations
providing an effective and less expensive
information interchange. This interconnected
network 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 organizations
and administrations and providing access to
on-line multimedia information, education,
cultural, entertainment and tourism services
on a local, regional, national and European
basis. Links between city and regional
networks should be promoted.

the environmental consequences of daily
commuting to population centres.
Applications should be set up to allow for
such developments while ensuring the
preservation of workers' rights and preventing
the risks of social isolation that could be

involved with teleworking. Special attention
should be paid to the evaluation of the social
consequences of these applications.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

**23**

**Library services:** Trans-European advanced
networked library services involving all types
of libraries (national, university/research,
public, etc.) should be deployed to provide
effective access to both the reservoir of

organized 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:

Unchanged.

**Telematic services for the job market:**
Networked services, such as job information
databases, should be developed to support the
changing labour market in the Community,
publicize EU-wide job opportunities and
encourage workforce mobility.

**Cultural and linguistic heritage:** Initiatives
should be launched to foster the preservation
of and access to the European cultural
heritage (including support for museum and
cultural site multi-media networks) and
creation, and to demonstrate the potential of
the information infrastructure to stimulate

and enhance creative endeavours and

achievements as well as to encourage 1 ocal
content and its dissemination.

Unchanged.

**24**

**Implementation** **of operational** **trans-**
**European generic services:** They 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, European
directories, exchange rate compensation,
authentication, data 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, multimedia 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.

**Implementation** **of operational** **trans-**
**European generic services:** They 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 or
emerging networks, fixed or mobile, and user
access. They should include sen/ice elements
operating at European scale, European
directories, exchange rate compensation,
authentication, data protection and
information security, trans-European "kiosk"
and network navigational aids, etc.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

**3.** **Basic networks** Unchanged.

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 transEuropean availability, ISDN is
today the most appropriate and efficient
digital switched basic network that can
support new services and applications. Its

Unchanged.

**25**

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**
**Asynchronous Transport 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
interoperate 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 programmes in
other areas, as well as the development of
broadband basic networks. They will involve
concertation with European standardization
and strategic planning bodies, coordination
with actions funded by the different
Community financial instruments. This
includes:

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

26

**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,

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

developing the network towards the target Unchanged,
networks, and

encouraging the development of open, Unchanged,
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** **coordination** **with**
**Community,** **European** **and** **national**

**programmes.**

**Definition** **of** **means** **to** **access** **IBC**

**networks.**

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

**27**

**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 proposals 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 transEuropean 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 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
must be transnational in the sense that they
shall be conceived to satisfy needs existing in
several Member States and to be

implemented in several Member States. This
does not prevent the initial phase of their
deployment, designed to check the technical
and commercial viability of the project, from
being carried out in a single Member State,
if it appears that the conditions prevailing in
this Member State are representative of those
existing in the other Member States where
the project should ultimately be implemented.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

Unchanged.

28

###### the consequences for the environment, Unchanged. specially for transborder projects, Unchanged, coordination of the timing of the different parts of a project. 29

##### **ISSN 0254-1475**

## COM(96) 108 final

# DOCUMENTS

## EN 15

### Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-116-EN-C ISBN 92-78-01644-6

**Office for Official Publications of** **the** **European Communities**

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