91/385/EEC: Council Decision of 22 July 1991 establishing the second phase of the Tedis programme (Trade electronic data interchange systems)

COUNCIL DECISION  of 22 July 1991  establishing the second phase of the Tedis programme (Trade electronic data interchange systems)  (91/385/EEC)
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 (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas one of the Community's tasks is, by establishing a common market and gradually reducing the gap between the economic policies of the Member States, to promote the harmonious development of economic activities throughout the Community and closer  relations between its constituent States;
Whereas the Commission White Paper on the completion of the internal market stresses the importance of the future development of new transfrontier services and the contribution made by telecommunications networks based on common standards towards the  creation of a market free of barriers at Community level;
Whereas the exchange of computerized data (EDI) can contribute increasingly towards the competitiveness of European undertakings in the production and services sectors;
Whereas there is rapid growth at present in public and private initiatives for putting into service within a company or group of companies or sector of activity, at national and international level, electronic data interchange systems which are not  compatible;
Whereas, as regards electronic data interchange, the diversity and fragmentation of initiatives taken at national level or more generally by a company, group of companies or sector of activity may lead to the creation of incompatible and  non-communicating systems and to preventing suppliers of equipment and services, and users, from deriving maximum benefit from the advantages created by the growth in electronic data interchange;
Whereas, in line with the Council Resolution of 22 January 1990 on trans-European networks (4) and the conclusions of the Strasbourg and Dublin European Councils, the smooth running of the internal market depends on undertakings and authorities involved  in it being able to exchange data as part of their activities by making use of compatible systems which enable genuine pan-European data interchange networks to be developed;
Whereas Tedis needs in particular to be dovetailed with the specific programme of research and technological development in communications technology (1990 to 1994), the specific programme of research and technological development in the field of  telematics systems of general interest (1990 to 1994) and the specific programme for information technology (1990 to 1994) which are part of the Community's third framework research programme;
Whereas the work already initiated in the field of electronic data interchange (EDI) during the first phase of the Tedis programme (1988 to 1989) established by Decision 87/499/EEC (5) makes it possible to envisage the establishment of such pan-European  networks, provided that this work is continued and expanded by instituting a second phase to the programme;
Whereas a programme lasting three years is called for;
Whereas an amount of ECU 25 million is estimated as necessary to implement this multi-annual programme; whereas, for the period 1991 to 1992, in the framework of the current financial perspective, the funds estimated as necessary are ECU 10 million;
Whereas the amounts to be committed for the financing of the programme for the period after the budget year 1992 will have to fall within the Community financial framework in force;
Whereas, by Decision 89/241/EEC (6), the Council amended the initial Decision on the Tedis programme to allow non-member countries, in particular Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), to be associated with the Tedis programme and,  in accordance with Article 228 of the Treaty, authorized the Commission to negotiate agreements with the EFTA Member States;
Whereas, by Decision 89/689/EEC (7), 89/690/EEC (8), 89/691/EEC (9), 89/692/EEC (10), 89/693/EEC (11) and 89/694/EEC (12), the Council approved the agreements on systems for the electronic transfer of data for commercial use concluded between the  European Economic Community and, respectively, Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland;
Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this Decision, powers of action other than those of Article 235,