RESOLUTION B3-1675/92/rev.

Resolution on telecommunications frequency bands

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission's proposal for a Council Directive on the frequency bands to be designated for the coordinated introduction of digital short-range radio (DSRR) in the Community (COM(91)0215),

- having regard to its opinion delivered at first reading on this proposal on 11 March 1992,

- having regard to the Commission's proposals on the common frequency bands to be designated for the coordinated introduction of the Terrestrial Flight Telecommunications System (TFTS) in the Community (COM(92)0314) and on the frequency bands to be designated for the coordinated introduction of road transport telematic systems in the Community, including road information and route guidance systems (COM(92)0341), on both of which Parliament has been consulted,

- having regard to the Council's resolution of 19 November 1992 concerning the application within the Community of the decisions of the European Radiocommunications Committee,

- having regard to the conclusions of the Presidency at the European Council in Edinburgh on 11-12 December 1992,

- having regard to Rule 41(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Commission has not kept the Parliament informed of developments concerning COM(91)0215, on which it is now unlikely that a common position will ever be reached,

B. whereas the Council resolution of 19 November 1992 appears to call for responsibility for frequency allocations to be conferred on CEPT rather than on the Commission,

1. Deeply regrets the lack of information from the Commission to Parliament as regards its various proposals on telecommunications frequencies;

2. Considers that recent developments in this field show that the Commission should have produced its long-promised Green Paper on mobile communications before it produced its individual proposals (such as DSRR) on an ad hoc basis; insists that this Green Paper be prepared by July 1993;

3. Notes that the Commission withdrew its proposals COM(92)0314 and COM(92)0341 on 7 December 1992, in the light of the Council resolution of 19 November 1992, stating that they "were not fully warranted in terms either of value added by Community action or of comparative efficiency in relation to other possibilities of action in national or international contexts", requests more information from the Commission as to why it put forward these proposals in the first place, and whether it believes that the new approach preferred by the Council of leaving the allocation of the relevant frequencies to a non-Community body (CEPT) will constitute a better approach;

4. Further notes that the Commission is also "considering" withdrawing its proposal on DSRR (COM(92)0215); insists that the Commission provide it with clearer information as to:

- why it has not proved possible to adopt the Commission's original proposal, and the precise nature of the technical and/or political problems that hav emerged;

- whether the Council's new preference for using CEPT for frequency allocation is also appropriate in the case of DSRR, and the Commission's evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach;

- when the Commission intends to take its final decision on maintaining or withdrawing the proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.