Council common position on Satellite Communication Sector
The Council and the Ministers for Telecommunications meeting within the Council on 16 June 1993 (1673rd session) adopted a common position on the Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning satellite earth station equipment, amending the scope of Council Directive 91/263/EEC (COM(92) 451 of 10.12.1992). This proposal is the first in a series intended to regulate the satellite communications service and equipment sector. It is a response to the Council Resolution of 19.12.1991 which set forth the objective of harmonization and liberalization of satellite earth communications stations, and takes into account the results of consultations with the Member States. Its four main objectives are: - To establish a single market for earth station equipment; - To bring into force harmonized procedures for certification, testing, marking, quality assurance and product surveillance to ensure adherence to the essential requirements set out in Directive 91/263/EEC; - To guarantee the right to use satellite earth station equipment which has been legally placed on the market; - To guarantee the right to connect satellite earth station equipment to public telecommunications networks. In creating an open Community-wide market for satellite earth stations, the Directive aims to assist manufacturers of satellite communications equipment to achieve the economies of scale necessary to compete effectively in European and world markets. A dynamic market in this field will bring substantial benefits to the European space and telecommunications industries, as well as to the European economy as a whole. This is particularly important for the proposed European Economic Area and as regards communications requirements in Central and Eastern Europe, where satellite systems are well suited for infrastructure requirements and the Community's transEuropean networks initiative. The common position on the Council Directive on satellite earth station equipment will now be forwarded to the European Parliament for a second reading.