Telecommunications, broadcasting, transport: radio frequency spectrum (Green Paper)

Without debate, the European Parliament adopted the resolution by Felipe Camison Asensio (PPE,ES) on the Commission Green Paper on Radio Spectrum Policy in the context of European Community policies such as telecommunications, broadcasting, transport and R&D. The report approves the initiative by the Commission of starting a debate on all aspects of radio spectrum policy which are pertinent in the Community and global context. The Parliament considers that a new approach should be initiated, where harmonised policy-making with regard to frequency availability should be the rule so as to allow for systematically pan-European services, while allowing the preservation of legitimate issues of national decison-making where these are justified, in particular for the management and assignment of frequencies. The Parliament also calls for: - a strengthening of procedures to be implemented at EU level to guarantee that the positions of the Community and its Member States are coordinated in all circumstances in the international bodies; - a systematic planning framework for the usage of frequencies to be initiated and implemented at EU-wide scale; - frequency allocations to be subject to harmonised criteria regarding efficient use, and that the use of already allocated frequencies be periodically assessed for all sectors, both commercial and public, so as to avoid their sub-optimal utilisation; - radio spectrum policy and spectrum management to facilitate technological innovation and stimulate competition; - revenues raised through the use of radio spectrum to be dedicated to enhance radio spectrum availability and efficiency. The Parliament confirms its strong support for harmonised European and, whenever possible, international standards developed basing on a wide industry consensus. It insists on the need to ensure that the neighbouring countries of the Union, in particular CEECs and Mediterranean countries are involved at early stages so as to prepare for pan-European harmonised bands. Finally, the Parliament calls for securing the spectrum for research, science and non-profit applications of public interest such as Amateur Radio service.�