COUNCIL RESOLUTIONof 9 June 1986on the use of videoconference and videophone techniques for intergovernmental applications(86/C 160/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Whereas on 28 February 1984 the Council requested the Commission to undertake an analysis of the use of videoconference and videophone techniques to improve contact between Member States and the Community institutions; Whereas the Council adopted the Commission communication on telecommunications dated 18 May 1984 (COM(84) 277 final) , which included an analysis of intergovernmental videoconference and videophone applications as a line of action; Whereas the Council, on 17 December 1984, agreed on the major objectives for a Community effort in the field of telecommunications, which included reference to the definition and implementation of an intergovernmental videoconference and videophone project; Whereas the Commission has submitted the feasibility study requested; Noting the feasibility study and the conclusions of the Commission, INVITES THE MEMBER STATES: 1. To implement an initial operational intergovernmental videoconference and videophone system which takes account of the potential of videoconference and videophone techniques, in order to improve and make more efficient the bilateral and multilateral exchange of information between the Governments of the Member States and the Community institutions; to that end, to entrust such implementation to the telecommunications authorities; 2. To complete the necessary installations, in accordance with the requirements they have ascertained; 3. To encourage the telecommunications authorities of Member States to proceed actively with establishment of the trans-Community broadband communications necessary to support an intergovernmental video conference and videophone system; INVITES THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COMMISSION: 1. To examine conditions for their participation in an initial operational intergovernmental videoconference and videophone system; FURTHERMORE, INVITES THE COMMISSION: 1. To continue the cooperation that has been established with telecommunications authorities and users during the preparation of the feasibility study and in particular resolve problems specific to the use of videoconference and videophone facilities by Governments and the Community institutions, such as confidentiality, simultaneous interpretation and the possibility of multilateral conferences; 2. To submit a report to the Council on the experience gained during 1987, also covering the financial aspects of putting this resolution into practice, so that the applicability of the system to intergovernmental communications may be assessed and a decision taken as to whether the use of videoconference and videophone facilities for such communications should be encouraged further.