24.11.93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 290/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/97/EEC of 29 October 1993 supplementing Directive 91/263/EEC in respect of satellite earth station equipment THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), In cooperation with the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (*), (1) Whereas the Commission has issued a Green Paper on a common approach in the field of satellite communications in the Community proposing the introduction of mutual recognition of type approval for satellite earth station equipment as one of the major preconditions for, inter alia, a Community-wide market for satellite earth station equipment; (2) Whereas the Council resolution of 19 December 1991 on the development of a common market for satellite communications services and equipment (¥) considers as one of the major goals in satellite tele- communications policy the harmonization and liberalization of appropriate satellite earth station equipment, subject, in particular, to conditions necessary for  compliance  with  essential requirements; (3) Whereas that resolution notes with interest the intention of the Commission to propose measures (*) OJ No C 4, 8. 1. 1993, p. 3. (*) OJ No C 176, 28. 6. 1993, p. 74 and Decision of 27 October 1993 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No C 161, 14. 6. 1993, p. 11. () OJ No C 8, 14. 1. 1992, p. 1. ) ) for the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the appropriate satellite earth station equipment, including the mutual recognition of their conformity, in line with the principles already established in Directive 91/263/EEC (*); Whereas the goal of an advanced, open Community-wide market for satellite earth station equipment requires effective and efficient harmonized procedures for certification, testing, marking, quality assurance and  product surveillance; whereas the alternative to Community legislation is an analogous system of provisions negotiated between Member States, which would involve obvious difficulties because of the number of organisms which would be involved in multiple bilateral negotiations; whereas this is not practi- cable, rapid or efficient; whereas therefore the objectives of the proposed action cannot be suffi- ciently achieved by the Member States; whereas on the contrary the form of 2 Community directive has repeatedly shown itself, in the sector of telecom- munications among others, as a practicable, rapid and efficient means; whereas the objective of the action under consideration can therefore be better achieved at Community level; Whereas Community law in its present form provides, notwithstanding one of the fundamental rules of the Community, namely the free movement of goods, that obstacles to movement within the Community, resulting from disparities in national legislations relating to the marketing of products, must be accepted in so far as such requirements can be recognized as being necessary to satisfy essential requirements; whereas, therefore, the harmon- ization of laws in this case must be limited only to (*) OJ No L 128, 23. 5. 1991, p. 1.