Brussels, 22/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti invited the leaders of the Member State national football leagues to keep to the end October deadline for presenting an operational proposal concerning the rules for transfers of players. This proposal must allow "frank, constructive and unemotional discussion" to be opened between Commission services, the FIFA and UEFA on the ways and means to achieve regulations that are compatible with the rules of the EU Treaty while preserving the specific nature of sport. The Commission is open to dialogue, said the Commissioner, stressing that, if time is pressing, it is because FIFA and UEFA did not react for two years to the Commission's letter of grievances concerning the current system. The Commission is not calling for this system to be abolished, but to be improved. The national federations (eleven of which were represented by senior officials at the meeting) seem oriented along lines that would leave broad autonomy to the national provisions, on the basis of the traditions and legislations of the different countries mainly concerning labour law, without establishing a uniform and binding European regulations.