31. 10. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 305/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3300/86 of 27 October 1986 instituting a Community programme for the development of certain less- favoured regions of the Community by improving access to advanced telecommunications services (STAR programme) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1787/84 of 19 June 1984 on the European Regional Development Fund (%), and in particular Article 7 (4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (3), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (¥), Whereas Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 1787/84, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Fund Regulation’, provides for participation by the Fund in Community programmes the purpose of which is to help in solving serious problems affecting the socio-economic situation in one or more regions and which are designed to provide a better link between the Community’s objectives for the struc- tural development or conversion of regions and the objec- tives of other Community policies ; Whereas Ireland, the Mezzogiorno, Northern Ireland, Corsica and the French overseas departments, the regions in Greece and in Portugal and certain regions in Spain have to contend with particularly serious economic problems ; whereas the level . of telecommunications services, especially of advanced services intended for the productive sector in those regions, is inadequate and whereas this shortcoming has an adverse effect on both their socio-economic situation and their development prospects ; () OJ No L 169, 28. 6. 1984, p. 1. () O] No C 147, 14. 6. 1986, p. 4 and O] No C 194, 1. 8. 1986, p. 7. () O] No C 176, 14. 7. 1986, p. 189. () OJ No C 263, 20. 10. 1986, p. 35. Whereas on 29 and 30 March 1985 the European Council endorsed objectives aimed at strengthening the techno- logical base and competitiveness of Community industry ; whereas those objectives include ‘achieving a break- through in telecommunications’ ; whereas one of the lines of action adopted on 17 December 1984 by the Council in this field is designed to ensure ‘improved access for less-favoured regions of the Community to the benefits of the development of advanced services and networks’; Whereas fuller integration of the least-favoured regions into telecommunications networks and appropriae use by them of advanced telecommunications services are neces- sary if they are to reduce the extent to which they lag behind in terms of economic development, since such services will reduce their isolation, will allow them to participate in the Community’s technological break- through and will foster job creation; Whereas use of advanced telecommunications services presupposes the establishment of the necessary infrastruc- tures such as major links for the regions of the new networks, digitalization to promote more rapid introduc- tion of integrated-services digital networks, the creation of additional capacities essential to the provision of advanced services notably in the field of high-speed data trans- mission, *and the establishment and development of cellular radio infrastructures in a way compatible with the coordinated introduction of a future pan-European radio- telephony cellular digital system ; Whereas the establishment of modern telecommunica- tions infrastructures must be accompanied by measures to promote the supply of, and the demand for, advanced services facilitating optimum use of those infrastructures ; whereas such promotion includes aid for the preparation of regional or local programmes for the coordinated use of telecommunication systems, advisory and publicity measures, demonstration projects, aid for small and medium-sized enterprises in order to encourage them to use advanced systems and to promote their activities in the telecommunications fields, service centres, experi- mental tele-commuting projects and the development of regional specialized information services ;