EU: Draft Council Conclusions

The Internal Market Council on 18 May 1998, chaired by the UK trade minister Lord Simon of Highbury, looks set to approve draft conclusions welcoming the Commission’s proposed actions set out in its Follow-up Communication on the Green Paper on Commercial Communications.

In addition, Lord Simon has in particular welcomed the Communication. In a detailed article in a special edition of the EC-sponsored Commercial Communications, he not only gives determined DTI support for the several complaints by business against cross-border infringements in the commercial communications sector, but also names the key complaints case by case. He goes on to state:

“These proceedings are not moving as quickly as business or we would like. No doubt there are reasons for this; but we hope that the processes can be speeded up. My Department’s Action Single Market stands ready to help business and individuals in the UK take up what may be obstacles to Single Market rights; and for example is helping business with the problems I have just mentioned.”

The draft Council conclusions, which will be given to the Internal Market Council at its 18 May meeting, were agreed by the Internal Market working group on 27 April 1998.