UK: AA meets Lord Simon

On 11 March the Advertising Association held a meeting with Lord Simon, the UK minister for trade and competitiveness in Europe, to discuss three issues: ˇ the recently-adopted Communication from the Commission, following up the Green Paper on Commercial Communications ˇ Article 169 infringement cases and the Commission’s response to them ˇ the arrangements to be made between the Advertising Association and the Department of Trade and Industry on the establishment of an advisory group for the Member States Expert Group set up by the Commission.

Lord Simon’s attention was drawn to several infringement cases that are being blocked by the Commission, notably the Greek restriction over toy advertising on TV, the French Loi Evin ban on alcohol advertising, and cases within Germany concerning bans on sales premiums. Lord Simon will be chairing the EU Internal Market Council meeting later this month.