26. 8. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 222/35 COUNCIL DECISION of 27 July 1994 adopting a specific programme for rescarch and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of advanced communication technologies and services (1994—1998) (94/572/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130i (4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas, by Decision 1110/94/EC (*), the Council and the European Parliament have adopted a Fourth Framework Programme for Community actions of research, technology development and demonstration (referred to hereafter as RTD) for the period 1994—1998 specifying inter alia the activities to be pursued in the area of advanced communications technologies and services; whereas this Decision takes account of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision; Whereas Article 130i (3) of the Treaty stipulates that the Framework Programme is to be implemented through specific programmes developed within each activity of the Framework Programme and that each specific programme is to define the detailed rules for implementing it, fix its ration and provide for the means deemed necessary; Whereas the amount deemed necessary for carrying out this programme is ECU 630 millin; whereas the appropriations for each financial year should be laid down by the budgetary authority, subject to the availability of resources within the financial perspectives and to the conditions set out in Article 1 (3) of Decision 1110/94/EC; Whereas the harmonized development and introduction of new generations of communication systems and services is vital to the consolidation of the internal market; whereas research and technology development is an essential underpinning to the development of trans-European  networks and  services;  whereas innovative use of new communications services underpins (!} OJ No C 205, 25. 7. 1994. (3} Opinion delivered on 2 June 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJNo L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1. the development of more flexible working patterns and the convergence of the media, television and telecommunications sectors in provision of interactive video services; whereas decisions taken on liberalization of telecommunications services by 1998 will pose new challenges in technology development for both network and service inter-operation and service management in a competitive environment; Whereas this programme may make a significant contribution to the stimulation of growth, to the strengthening of competitiveness and to the development of employment in the Community, as indicated in the White Paper on ‘growth, competitiveness and employment’; Whereas the content of the Fourth Framework Programme for Community RTD activities was established in accordance with the subsidiarity principle; whereas this specific programme specifies the content of the activities to be carried out in accordance with this principle in the area of advanced communications technologies and services; Whereas Decision 1110/94/EC lays down that a Community action is justified if, inter alia, the research contributes to the strengthening of the economic and social cohesion of the Community and the promotion of its overall harmonious development, while being consistent with the pursuit of scientific and technical quality; whereas this programme is intended to help meet these objectives; Whereas the Community should only support RTD activities of high quality; Whereas fundamental research must be encouraged, because of the rapid pace of technological innovation, particularly in the area of photonic communications; Whereas the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres (including the Joint Research Centre (JRC)) and universities, and the rules governing the dissemination of research results specified in the measures provided for in Article 130j of the Treaty, apply to this specific programme; Whereas provision should be made for measures to encourage the participation of small and medium-sized - enterprises (SMEs) in this programme, in particular through technology stimulation measures;