L 180/24 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 Belgium 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 (2007/479/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordi- nation of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities ('), 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: 4y By letter of 10 December 2003, Belgium notified to the Commission measures to be taken pursuant to Article 3a(1) of Directive 89/552/EEC. The Commission verified, within three months from this notification, that such measures are compatible with Community law, in particular as regards the pro- portionality of the measures and the transparency of the national consultation procedure. In its examination, the Commission took into con- sideration the available data on the Belgian media landscape. The list of events of major importance for society included in the Belgian measures was drawn up in a clear and transparent manner and a far-reaching consul- tation process had been launched in Belgium. The Commission was satisfied that the events listed in the Belgian 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 activity concerned; (i) a generally recognised, distinct cultural importance for the population in the Member State, in particular as a catalyst of cultural identity; (i) () 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). (10) 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 Belgian measures, including the summer and winter Olympic Games as well as the World Cup Finals and the European Football Championship Finals tournaments (men), fall within the category of events traditionally considered to be 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 Belgium, as they are particularly popular with the general public, not just with those who usually follow sport events. Given that the Belgian Football Cup Final (men) is intended to bring together the two best Belgian clubs and ends in the award of a trophy (the Cup), it is popular far beyond the ranks of those normally following sport events, and has thus special general resonance in Belgium. The listed football events involving national teams have a special general resonance in Belgium as they give Belgian teams the opportunity to promote Belgian football at international level. The finals and semi-finals of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup have a special general resonance in Belgium given the popularity of football in Belgium and the prestige of those matches, which are followed by the general public, and not only by those who usually follow sport events. Road cycling is a popular sport in Belgium. Part of the Tour de France (men), the most important cycling event in the world, takes place in Belgium. The Belgian Road Cycling Championship (men) has a special general resonance in Belgium as it closes the professional cycling season, followed by the general public and the Belgian media. The other listed cycling events have a special general resonance in Belgium given the usual success of Belgian participants at international level. The listed international cycling events taking place in Belgium also provide an opportunity to promote Belgium as a country.