2.7.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 172/15 DECISIONS ADOPTED JOINTLY BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL DECISION No 626/2008/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 June 2008 on the selection and authorisation of systems providing mobile satellite services (MSS) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (), G) cations for rural and less developed regions, for which the diffusion of broadband, lower frequency mobile communications and new wireless technologies could provide efficient solutions to achieving universal coverage in the 27 Member States with a view to the sustainable development of all areas. The European Parliament also noted that Member States’ regimes for spectrum allocation and exploitation differ widely and that those differences represent serious obstacles to the achievement of a well-functioning internal market. The Commission, in its Communication of 26 April 2007 on European Space Policy, has also established an objective of facilitating the introduction of innovative satellite communications services, in particular by aggre- gating demand in remote and rural areas, while stressing the need for pan-European licensing of satellite services and spectrum. Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory Whereas: framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive) (*) aims at encouraging efficient use and ensuring effective management of radio frequencies and numbering resources, removing (1)  As confirmed by the Council in its conclusions of the remaining obstacles to the provision of the relevant 3 December 2004, effective and coherent use of radio spectrum is essential for the development of electronic communications services and contributes to stimulating growth, competitiveness and employment; access to spectrum must be eased to improve efficiency and promote innovation as well as greater flexibility for users and more choice for consumers, while taking account of general interest objectives. The European Parliament, in its resolution of 14 February 2007 entitled ‘Towards a European Policy on the Radio Spectrum’ (%), emphasised the importance of communi- (1) O C 44, 16.2.2008, p. 50. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 21 May 2008 (not yet networks and services, ensuring that there is no discri- mination and encouraging the establishment and deve- lopment of trans-European networks and the interoper- ability of pan-European services. The introduction of new systems providing mobile satellite services (MSS) would contribute to the develop- ment of the internal market and enhance competition by increasing the availability of pan-European services and end-to-end connectivity as well as encouraging efficient investment. MSS constitute an innovative alternative platform for various types of pan-European telecommu- nications and  broadcasting/multicasting  services, published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 23 June 2008. () O] L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33. Directive as amended by Regulation () O] C 287 E, 29.11.2007, p. 364. (EC) No 717/2007 (OJ L 171, 29.6.2007, p. 32).