Brussels, 02/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - With the Green Paper, adopted on Tuesday in Strasbourg, the European Commission opens broad consultation on the arrangements for future improvement in the Union's trading practices. This would lift obstacles that still discourage consumers and companies from resorting to cross-border operations and to use their rights in the event of a disappointing transaction in a Member State other than their own (see EUROPE of 30 April/1 May, p .9). The document will allow the Commission to gather the points of view of all the parties interested on the solutions envisaged: either the continued harmonisation of legislation on a case by case basis or the elaboration of a framework directive establishing the principles of consumer protection to complete existing specific legislation, by leaving the door open to self-regulation (codes of good practice), as long as they respect the principles.