21. 10. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 288/39 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 26 July 1988 concerning the establishment of a plan of action for setting up an information services market (88/524/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having tegard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (Y), Having regard to the opinidn of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas it is essential to adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing the internal market over a period expiring on 31 December 1992; whereas the internal market comprises an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured; Whereas application of the Community programme for the development of the specialized information market in Europe, adopted by the Council by Decision 84/567/EEC (*), has revealed that a much more compre- hensive Community information market policy is necessary ; Whereas the Heads of State and of Government, meeting within the European Council in Brussels on 29 and 30 March 1985, approved the creation of a Community information market as a specific objective ; Whereas the Council on 18 March 1986 gave a favourable reception to the communication from the Commission comprising a work programme for creating a common information market ; () OJ No C 249, 17. 9. 1987, p. 6. () OJ No C 13, 18. 1. 1988, p. 69. () OJ No C 356, 31. 12. 1987, p. 1. () OJ No L 314, 4. 12. 1984, p. 19. Whereas the Commission, - having consulted represen- tatives of users and suppliers of information services as well as the Senior Officials Advisory Group for information market policy, has been able to draw up an agreed definition of the principle objectives and lines of action of a Community policy which is designed to tackle on a broad front the complex, diverse and overlapping questions arising out of the evolution of the information market ; Whereas it is recognized that information plays a role of fundamental importance in the development of trade and industry, giving strength and coherence to the European economy as a whole, as well as being an essential component of both the cultural identity of the Community and the fabric of a modern society ; Whereas the rapid development and convergence of new technologies has led to considerable  difficulties in defining the exact scope of the information market sector ; : Whereas fuller statistics on the Community information market are vitally needed to match those for more traditional sectors ; Whereas, by virtue of the economic importance of information, the creation of a common information services market occupies an essential place in the completion of the internal market by the end of.1992; Whereas there exist numerous technical, administrative and legal barriers to the creation of an internal information market which are hindering the setting-up of new services and causing in some cases distortions of competition ; : Whereas the need for simplification of procedures as well as ‘harmonization in the field of database access should undergo priority scrutiny ;