25/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – The first inter-institutional meeting on the 'mutual recognition' regulation, which was held on Monday 24 September, was very useful, as the European Parliament and the Council positions are very close to each other, according to our sources. Two further meetings are scheduled for 18 October and 22 November. The co-legislators are very confident that they will be able to reach an agreement under the Austrian Presidency of the Council. Article 4 on the mutual recognition declaration, which allows economic operators to prove, on a voluntary basis, that their products were legally sold in a member state, will be the most political point, as the Council has a more restrictive reading than the Parliament (see EUROPE 12088). (PH)