L 295/12 Official Journal of the European Union 14.11.2007 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 16 October 2007 on the compatibility with Community law of measures taken by the United Kingdom 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 (Text with EEA relevance) (2007/730/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: 4y By letter of 25 September 1998, the United Kingdom (hereinafter ‘the UK’) notified to the Commission measures taken pursuant to Article 3a(l) of Directive 89/552[/EEC. On 2 November 1998, the Commission communicated those measures to the other Member States and received observations of the Committee estab- lished pursuant to Article 23a of Directive 89/552/EEC, at its meeting on 20 November 1998. By letter of 23 December 1998, the Commission informed the UK that there were doubts as to the scope of the measures notified which prevented it from assessing whether () 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). those measures were compatible with Community law. The UK notified an amended version of these measures to the Commission by letter of 5 May 2000. The Commission verified, within three months from this notification, that these measures are compatible with Community law, in particular as regards the propor- tionality of the measures and the transparency of the national consultation procedure. In its examination, the Commission took into consid- eration the available data on the UK media landscape. The list of events of major importance for society included in the UK measures was drawn up in a clear and transparent manner and a far-reaching consultation had been launched in the UK. The Commission was satisfied that the events listed in the UK 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; (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.