The Council of Ministers Working Group on Consumer Protection has prepared a draft resolution on the consumer dimension of the Information Society which calls for the application of the country of destination principle. This resolution is being discussed at the next meeting of the group on 5 October 1998. The Federation of Direct Marketing is… Continue reading EU: Council goes for country of destination
The Court of First Instance has upheld actions seeking the annulment of EC decisions concerning an agreement on fixing postal rates and the practice of certain public postal services of intercepting “remailed” post (Case T – 133/95, IECC v Commission). The Commission decided that public postal operators, entrusted with the provision of universal service, are… Continue reading EU: CFI annuls remail decision
Following a two-year struggle to gain approval for EC proposals on EU-wide rules governing the sale of financial services via telephone, direct selling or the Internet, a speech by Commissioner Mario Monti on 14 October is expected to propose a compromise to break the stalemate. In trying to reach agreement with the EP and MS,… Continue reading EU: Financial Services Distance Selling
Inflation has hit the Government’s target level of 2.5% for the second month running, according to the Office for National Statistics, which uses figures excluding mortgage payments and interest rates.The Retail Prices Index for September was announced this morning as 161.8, a 0.4% increase on last month and a 3.2% increase on September 1997.The news… Continue reading Inflation On Target At 2.5%
The Department of Culture has proposed an amendment to its broadcasting law that would protect important national and international sporting events from being shown only on pay or pay-per-view TV. It proposes that only channels reaching 90% of the population will be allowed to broadcast those events, which will include the summer and winter Olympic… Continue reading NOR: Protected sports list introduced
The meeting of the EU’s Expert Group on Commercial Communications on 22 October will apply the proportionality assessment methodology for the first time to discounts, and will also have a first exchange of views on premiums. Predictions that the group would also start to consider advertising to children may be premature, as the EC is… Continue reading EU: Expert Group meeting
Discussions are under way on a global accord on an international email preference service, which would enable email address holders to register with a national database accessible to users of commercial email. Direct marketing bodies will be meeting in the USA later this month to consider proposals for the international framework.
The Department of Trade and Industry has sent to interested parties a Consultative Document “Liberalising Trade in Services” seeking comments and advice on what should be the UK’s objectives and priorities for the new multilateral negotiations on trade in services starting in 2000. Copies of the Document are available from the DTI, 348 Kingsgate House,… Continue reading UK: DTI Consultation on GATS
Future Publishing announced some further appointments this week, following its creation of an advertising director on Friday (see Newsline).David Roberts has been moved to the role of international development publisher, and David Lilley has been made contract publisher.John Weir becomes publisher of Future’s online business, FutureNet, and both Jackie Garford and Rob Price move up… Continue reading Internal Changes At Future
In reaction to the ECJ´s recent criticism of EC inaction, Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert, has announced that the EC is drawing up a working paper on ‘State Aid to Public Television Stations’. Speaking at a press conference last week, Van Miert said that he intends to draw up guidelines to enable the EC to… Continue reading EU: EC Acts on Public TV Funding
