3.4.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 93/53 COMMISSION DECISION of 21 March 2001 on the basic parameters of the command-control and signalling subsystem of the trans-European high-speed rail system referred to as ‘ERTMS characteristics’ in Annex II(3) to Directive 96/48/EC (notified under document number C(2001) 746) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/260/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (5)  The second objective of this Decision is to establish a Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996 on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system (!), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) The first stage in developing technical specifications for interoperability (TSIs) is to establish the characteristics of the basic parameters referred to in Article 5(3)(b) of Directive 96/48/EC. (2)  The Committee set up by Directive 96/48/EC has appointed the European Association for Railway Intero- perability (AEIF) as the joint representative body in accordance with Article 2(h) of that Directive. (3)  The AEIF has drafted a text that includes definitions and proposals for the basic parameters of the control- command and signalling subsystem referred to in Annex 11(3) to Directive 96/48/EC as ‘ERTMS (?) characteristics’. (4)  The first objective of this Decision is to guide the tech- nical choices made by authorities responsible for plan- ning, constructing, upgrading and operating the infra- structure and rolling stock to be put into service after the date on which this Decision takes effect, contributing to the operation of the rail system referred to in Directive 96/48/EC. () O] L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 6. (¥ European Rail Traffic Management System. common basis for the elaboration of the TSIs. It does not preclude the need to establish these parameters in the corresponding TSI, which will be adopted in accord- ance with Article 6(1) of Directive 96/48/EC. These parameters can also be updated as part of the review of the TSIs provided for in Article 6(2) of that Directive. (6)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Directive 96/48/EC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The definitions and characteristics to be respected for the basic parameters of the control-command and signalling subsystem of the trans-European high-speed railway system referred to as ‘ERTMS characteristics’ in Annex II(3) to Directive 96/48/EC are given in the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 21 March 2001. For the Commission Loyola DE PALACIO Vice-President