The Council adopted a Decision on a set of guidelines for
the development of the ISDN (integrated services digital network) as a
trans-European network. The Council accepted all the amendments adopted by
the European Parliament on second reading; it therefore amended its common
position of 22 December 1994 accordingly. The Decision concerns a
set of guidelines for the development of EURO-ISDN as a European network and
as a component of ‘universal service’. It is needed to establish smooth
coordination between the MemberStates and the economic
operators responsible for creating the basic infrastructure, in order to
ensure the harmonized introduction of ISDN services. The creation of
EURO-ISDN has the following objectives: making available a set of basic
services on EURO-ISDN, bearing in mind that account must be taken of the
future introduction of a European integrated broadband communications network;
availability of full geographical coverage by EURO-ISDN in all Member States,
having regard to market needs, in particular to facilitate access to
peripheral regions by means of EURO-ISDN. The Decision identifies the
priorities for realising these objectives and a set of projects of common
interest.