L 180/38 Official Journal of the European Union 10.7.2007 COMMISSION DECISION of 25 June 2007 on the compatibility with Community law of measures taken by Finland pursuant to Article 3a(1) of Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (2007/481[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (1), and in particular Article 3a(2) thereof, Having regard to the opinion of the Committee established pursuant to Article 23a of Directive 89/552/EEC, Whereas: (1) By letter of 22 September 2006, received by the Commission on 2 October 2006, Finland notified to the Commission measures to be taken pursuant to Article 3a(1) of Directive 89/552/EEC. () The Commission verified, within a period of three months from this notification, that such measures are compatible with Community law, in particular as regards the proportionality of the measures and the transparency of the national consultation procedure. (3)  In its examination, the Commission took into consider- ation the available data on the Finnish media landscape. (4 The list of events of major importance for society included in the Finnish measures was drawn up in a clear and transparent manner and a far-reaching consul- tation had been launched in Finland. (5 The Commission was satisfied that the events listed in the Finnish measures met at least two of the following criteria considered to be reliable indicators of the importance of events for society: (i) a special general resonance within the Member State and not simply a significance to those who ordinarily follow the sport or () O] L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23. Directive as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 202, 30.7.1997, p. 60). activity concerned; (i) a generally recognised, distinct cultural importance for the population in the Member State, in particular as a catalyst of cultural identity; (iii) involvement of the national team in the event concerned in the context of a competition or tournament of inter- national importance; and (iv) the fact that the event has traditionally been broadcast on free television and has commanded large television audiences. A number of the events listed in the Finnish measures, including the summer and winter Olympic Games, the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the World Cup as well as the matches of the Finnish team in that tournament, fall within the category of events tra- ditionally considered of major importance for society, as referred to explicitly in recital 18 of Directive 97/36/EC. These events have a special general resonance in Finland, as they are particularly popular with the general public, not just with those who usually follow sport events. The men’s Ice Hockey World Championships, organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), have a special general resonance, as ice hockey is played actively by the Finnish people, and a generally recognised, distinct cultural importance for the Finnish population in view of the great success of the Finnish team in this international tournament. Because of their specific organisation, the Ice Hockey World Championships should be treated as a single event in which matches between other countries also affect the position of teams against which Finland must or may play and the overall result. The Nordic World Ski Championships (cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined), organised by the International Ski Federation (FIS), have a special general resonance and a generally recognised, distinct cultural importance for the Finnish population as a catalyst of cultural identity, as Nordic skiing enjoys the status of a national sport in Finland. The listed athletics events, namely the World Cham- pionships in Athletics, organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and the European Athletics Championships, organised by the European Athletics Association (EAA), have a generally recognised, distinct cultural importance for the Finnish population as a catalyst of cultural identity, as the top Finnish athletes representing Finland internationally in a wide range of individual disciplines are among the world elite in their specialities.