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Whereas the aim of establishing trans-European telecommunication networks is to allow the circulation of information with a view to enabling the internal market to function properly for all participants, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the Community, and strengthening its economic and social cohesion; Whereas the internal market establishes an area without internal frontiers within which the free movement of goods, services and capital must be guaranteed; whereas in order to ensure each of these freedoms, the Community acts adopted or being adopted provide for measures involving a substantial interchange of data between individuals, economic operators and the competent administrations; whereas such interchange can be ensured using trans-European networks; Whereas action by the Community in this field has to take account in particular of the need to link island, land-locked and peripheral regions with the central regions of the Community;

Whereas Council Recommendation 86/659/EEC (5) provides for a set of ISDN services compatible at European level to be made available, which is also the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding between the public telecommunications network operators; Whereas the Council Resolution of 18 July 1989 (6) called for a strengthening of coordination on the introduction of ISDN in the European Community before the end of 1992; Whereas Council Recommendation 92/383/EEC (7) calls for the application to ISDN of the principles of open network provision; Whereas, in this Resolution of 5 June 1992 (8), the Council recognized the importance of developing ISDN in the context of trans-European networks; Considering the conclusions of the European Council meeting in Corfu on 24 and 25 June 1994 and in particular those relating to the information society; Whereas for the further development of the regulatory framework, account should be taken of the objectives defined in this Decision;

Whereas it is important, for the smooth operation of the internal market, to facilitate the movement of goods, services, persons and capital between the Community and third countries, and more specially the member countries of the European Free Trade Association; whereas such movements will strengthen trade relations between the economic operators of the countries concerned; whereas cooperation must therefore be established with those countries in order to promote Europe-wide interconnection and interoperability of ISDN; Whereas adequate Community action is needed to establish smooth coordination between the Member States and the economic operators responsible for creating the basic infrastructure, in order to ensure the harmonized introduction of ISDN services; whereas failure to adopt a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the development of ISDN as a trans-European network would be liable to result in a lack of interconnection and interoperability between national networks and a smaller supply of compatible basic services, HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION: