Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

14. 2. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 37/5

## II

_(Preparatory Acts)_

# COMMISSION

Proposal for a Council Decision on high-definition television

_COM(88) 659 final_

_(Submitted by the Commission on 2 December 1988)_

(89/C 37/05)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235
thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European
Parliament,

Whereas high-definition television (HDTV) is of
strategic importance for the European consumer electronics industry and for the European television and film
industries;

Whereas a single world standard for the origination and
exchange of high-definition television programmes and
films is urgently required;

Whereas European industry has developed, within the
Eureka framework, a suitable proposal for such a single
world production standard;

Whereas prototype equipment built to this standard has
been successfully demonstrated at the September 1988
Brighton International Broadcasting Convention;

Whereas 1992 may be set as a target date for the launch
of commercial equipment on the market and the
beginnings of operational HDTV services;

Whereas a substantial promotion campaign needs to be
launched immediately to prepare professional users and
the general TV viewing public for such a launch;

Whereas there is an urgent requirement to prepare
a strategy and action plan for the launch of
European-wide HDTV services;

Whereas it is of great importance that all Member States
of the Community participate in these activities;

Whereas these initiatives should lead to closer

cooperation at Community level between industry (the
consumer and professional electronics industry and the
TV and film production industry) and service providers
(terrestrial broadcasters, satellite TV stations, cable
operators, cinema distributors);

Whereas the Treaty has not provided the necessary
specific powers,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

_Article 1_

The following objectives are hereby adopted as the basis
of a comprehensive Community strategy for the introduction of high-definition television services in Europe:

Objective 1

To ensure that the European industry develops in time
all the necessary technology, components and equipment
required for the progressive launching of HDTV services
throughout the 1990s.

Objective 2

(i) To ensure that the European proposal based on the
parameters 1 250 lines, 50 frames per second
progressive scanning, is adopted as the single world
standard for the origination and exchange of HDTV
programme material; and

(ii) to ensure that broadcast standards (which will be
different in 50 Hz and 60 Hz countries) obey the
rules already laid down in CCIR recommendation
601 and are thus easily convertible into each other.

Objective 3

To ensure the widest use of the European HDTV system
throughout the world and the most favourable environment for the sale of European HDTV equipment
and programmes throughout the world.

No C 37/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 14. 2. 89

Objective 4

To ensure the development of a strategy and action plan
for the progressive launch of HDTV services in Europe
throughout the 1990s.

_Article 2_

In order to attain the objectives referred to in Article 1,
an action plan for the introduction of HDTV will be
prepared, under the responsibility of the Commission in
consultation with the:

— Member States' authorities,

— terrestrial broadcasters,

— satellite TV stations,

— cable operators,

— professional and consumer electronics equipment
manufacturers,

— television and film production industry,

throughout the Community, and throughout Europe as a
whole, in close cooperation with the Eureka HDTV
project actors and coordinators.

_Article 3_

On the basis of the results of the consultations, and on a
proposal from the Commission, the Council shall decide
an action plan for the introduction of HDTV services.
This action plan will also include mechanisms allowing
European third countries to participate.

Proposal for a Council Directive on the limitation of noise emission from civil subsonic jet

aeroplanes

_COM(88) 662 final_

_(Submitted by the Commission on 7 December 1988)_

(89/C 37/06)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 80/51/EECO, as amended by Directive 83/206/
EEC ( [2] ), fixes limits on emission of such noise;

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 84 (2)
thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European
Parliament,

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

Whereas the application of noise emission standards to
civil subsonic jet aeroplanes has significant consequences
for the provision of air transport services in particular
where such standards impose restrictions on the type of
aeroplanes that may be operated by airlines, encourage
investment in the latest and quietest aeroplanes available
and facilitate the better use of existing capacity,
including that of airports; whereas Council Directive

Whereas the priority programme of the Council for the
study of air transport questions refers to emissions from
aeroplanes including noise;

Whereas the programme of action of the European
Communities on the environment ( [3] ) shows clearly the
importance of the problem of noise and, in particular,
the need to take action against noise due to air traffic;

Whereas aeroplane noise should be further reduced,
taking into account environmental factors, technical
feasibility and economic consequences;

Whereas, therefore, it is appropriate to restrict the
addition of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes to Member
States' registers to those which comply with the
standards specified in Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of
Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil

Aviation, first edition (November 1981), and, in
conjunction with the creation of an area without internal

(') OJ No L 18, 24. 1. 1980, p. 26.
( [2] ) OJ No L 117, 4. 5. 1983, p. 15.
( [J] ) OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987, p. 1.