24. 8. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities Ne L 230/25 COMMISSION DECISION of 30 July 1990 setting up a Joint Committee on Telecommunications Services (90/450/EEC) THE -COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic. Community, Whereas the Heads of State or of Government stated in their declaration of 21 October 1972 that the first aim of economic expansion should be to enable disparities in- living conditions to be reduced and that this aim should express itself in better quality of life and higher standard of living; Whereas, in this connection, they considered it indispen- sable that both employers and employees should be increasingly involved in the economic and social deci- sions of the Community; Whereas, amongst the priority actions contained in the Community’s ‘social action programme’, the Commission has recommended that dialogue and cooperation between ‘employers and employees be promoted at Community level ;. Whereas the Council in its resolution of 21 January 1974 concerning a social action programme (') named increased involvement of social partners in the economic and social decisions of the Community as one of the priority measures to be taken; Whereas ‘the European Parliament in its resolution of 13 June 1972 (% stated that the participation of -employers. and employees in the formulation of a Community social- policy should be achieved during the first stage of economic and monetary union; Whereas the Economic and Social Committee in its opinion of 24 November 1971 expressed a similar view ; Whereas the Council stressed in ‘its conclusions of 22 June 1984 concerning a Community. medium-term social action- programme (%), that the European social dialogue must be strenghtened and its procedures adapted in order to involve the social partners more . effectively in -the economic and social-decisions of the Community; Whereas - the situation in the .various Member States clearly demonstrates the need for -the two. sides of the telecommunications services to participate actively in the () OJ No C 13, 12. 2. 1974, p. 1. () O] No C 70, 1. 7. 1972, p. 11. () OJ No C 175, 4. 7. 1984, p. 1. improvement of living and working conditions ; whereas a joint committee attached to the Commission is the most appropriate means of ensuring such participation. by crea- ting at Community level a representative forum for the socio-economic interests involved ; Whereas the 1987 green paper on the ‘Development of the common market for telecommunications services and equipment’ and the subsequent Council resolution and - Economic and Social Committee comments on that green paper--all acknowledge the importance of sustaining dialogue between the social partners-to facilitate a smooth and successful -introduction of new technologies, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 A Joint Committee on Telecommunications Services hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’ is hereby esta- - blished. Article 2- The Committee shall assist the Commission in the formulation and implementation of Community policy aimed at: S — improving the economic and competitive positions of the Community’s telecommunications sector, — improving and harmonizing living and working conditions in the telecommunications sector within the context of the relevant articles of the Treaty. Article 3 1. In order to attain the objectives laid down in Article 2, the Committee shall: (a) issue opinions and submit reports to-the Commission, either at the latter’s request or on its own initiative ; and - (b) in respect of matters falling within the competence of the employers’ and' employees’ assosications listed in Article 4 (3): — promote dialogue and cooperation between these associations, — arrange for studies to be carried out, — participate in discussions and seminars.