Brussels, 29/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 29 November, the Council of telecoms ministers adopted conclusions on the single market for mobile television, responding to a European Commission report published in July 2007. The Commission called for the adoption of DVB-H as the single European standard in order to smooth out the introduction of mobile television services across the European Union, an idea which did not seem to have unanimous support from the member states at first. The Council, however, managed to agree on a common position in this connection and approved the European Commission's proposal that DVB-H should be added to the list of EU standards as a non-compulsory standard, in order to speed up its deployment in Hertz mobile television services throughout the entire EU. The ministers stressed the importance of innovation, technological neutrality and an approach focussing on the market for the long-term deployment of mobile television broadcasting. The implementation of these standards and services by companies in the member states will need to be monitored, along with the interoperability of services and consumer choice, noted the Council. Commissioner Viviane Reding welcomed member states' support for DVB-H, which will be officially adopted in February 2008, she announced. Stressing that it was not a matter of ruling out or banning other standards, the commissioner commented on the irreversible nature of the process and said DVB-H would be the EU's standard from now on. The process changes as it goes along and it was not a matter of banning other standards but the Commission is encouraged to continue in this direction, commented Portuguese minister, Mário Lino. (I.L.)