Brussels, 06/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The EP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs adopted on 23 April the report by Werner Konrad, elected CDU member, on the European Commission's project on automobile distribution, presented to the EP in February (see EI of 21 February, p.15). On the whole, a majority of the parliamentary committee supports the European Commission's intention to open the market up to competition, subject to amendments intended to ensure the legal safety of traders and limit the impact of full competition. In particular, MEPs adopted amendments on: the link between distributors and garages, sales of different makes in one and the same place, spare parts, legal contracts and the timetable for application of the new system. The report mainly recommends extension of the time (October 2003 to October 2005) in which traders may set up business in other Member States. The EP is expected to give its opinion on this report during the next plenary in Strasbourg, said Michael Tscherny, one of the spokespersons for Commissioner Monti. He specified: "We shall pay a great deal of attention to what the EP has to say". The final project, which will "no doubt include changes", is expected "during July", Mr Tscherny added.