No L 196/48 Official Journal of the Buropean Communities 5.8 93 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 22 July 1993 on an action plan for the introduction of advanced television services in Europe (93/424/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (%), ’ Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas the Community, through Decisions 89/337/ EEC (Y and 89/630/EEC (), recognized the strategic importance of high definition television (HDTV) for the European consumer electronics industry and for the Euro- pean television and film industries and established the strategy framework for the introduction of European HDTV; Whereas the objectives of the strategy for the introduction of HDTV in Europe are an integral part of the Commu- nity audio-visual policy; whereas they must take into account other objectives of this policy within the perspec- tive of the development of Europe’s audio-visual capacity, which comprise structural objectives such as the develop- ment of the independent production sector or the deve- lopment of production in countries or regions with more limited audio-visual capacity ; ‘ () OJ No C 139, 2. 6. 1992, p. 4. () OJ No C 337, 21. 12. 1992, p. 93. () OJ No C 332, 16. 12. 1992, p. 39. () OJ No L 142, 25. 5. 1989, p. 1. () OJ No L 363, 13. 12. 1989, p. 30. Whereas the action plan should ensure that the whole territory of the Community is satisfactorily covered by advanced services ; Whereas financial incentives are initially required to ensure the accelerated development of the advanced tele- “vision service market in conformity with the strategy indi- cated above, by contributing to the reduction of the addi- tional start-up costs involved ; Whereas the action plan should be solely directed at promoting the 16 : 9 format (625 or 1 250 lines), irrespec- tive of the European television standard used and irres- pective of the broadcasting mode (terrestrial, satellite or cable); Whereas the action plan should facilitate the uptake of all technologies, including fully digital technology ; Whereas it is appropriate to set targets for the impact of Community funding on the early market development of advanced television services ; Whereas a programme lasting four years is called for; Whereas an amount of ECU 405 million is estimated as necessary to achieve the objective of the action plan; Whereas the funding of this amount should come from Community funds-and from other sources, with the Community contribution amounting to ECU 228 million ; Whereas those economic operators who co-finance the action plan shall be given due recognition under Community R&D and standardization activities, always in accordance with the general rules for participation in these activities ;