Council Resolution on satellite communications services and equipment
A Council Resolution of 19 December 1991 on the development of the common market for satellite communications services and equipment considers the following points as major policy goals: - Harmonization and liberalization for appropriate satellite earth stations, including where applicable the abolition of exclusive or special rights in this area; - Harmonization and liberalization to facilitate the provision and use of Europe-wide satellite telecommunications; - Separation in all Member States of regulatory and operational functions in the field of satellite communications; - Improved access to the space segment and access to the space capacity of intergovernmental organizations operating satellite systems, plus effective and accelerated procedures for the establishment of and access to separate satellite systems. The Council gives its support to the general goals of the Commission's Green Paper on a common approach in the field of satellite communications in the European Community (COM(90) 490 of 20.11.1990). It notes with interest the intentions of the Commission to propose measures to achieve the goals set forth above, to analyse the effects of these measures on the European satellite communications industry and to make proposals aimed at establishing competitiveness with regard to third countries, particularly in the areas of third country relations, standards processes and research programmes. Inter alia, it calls for measures to be taken before 1 January 1993 for the extension of competitions principles to aspects of trade and use of satellite earth stations, for the approximation of Member State laws concerning such stations (including the mutual recognition of their conformity), and for the establishment of a harmonized regulatory framework for the licensing of satellite networks and satellite services. Member States are invited to work as quickly as possible towards the development of effective and accelerated procedures for the establishment of separate satellite systems and for the improvement and broadening of accesses to space segments of intergovernmental organizations operating satellite systems.