Brussels, 22/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Tuesday's Consumer Council devoted most of its work to discussion on the future of the Union's consumer policy, in the light of different but closely interwoven Commission initiatives. In this context, the debate on sales promotion in the internal market (see yesterday's EUROPE) overlapped interventions by ministers concerning the follow-up to be given to the Green Paper on consumer policy and the new strategy for consumer policy 2002-2006 that Commissioner David Byrne presented to Council. Concerning the post Green Paper, the Commission announced that it would present a communication in June, at the same time as the "administrative simplification" package, which will allow the Council to carry out a more detailed debate. Given the results of the consultation, the Commission noted a preference for the mixed approach (a framework directive for more targeted instruments), but pointed out to Council that it considered it necessary to pursue consultation to determine the substance of this framework directive, before completing it with other instruments (specific legislation, codes of conduct). A group of experts will be created to this end to identify the common ground between the various national systems and to compile a register of the obstacles to intra-Community trade.
Furthermore, the Council: - noted a speech by the Commissioner on consumers and the euro which confirms a high rate of satisfaction (87% believe it to be a success, although 49% admit they continue to think and calculate in national currency, and 74% continue to think - erroneously the studies say - that conversion into euros is mainly responsible for price rises); - noted a Presidency information note on the results of the European Consumers Day celebrated in Madrid on the theme "representing consumers"; - and was informed of the Council's work on the proposal of regulation establishing general rules for the hygiene of foodstuffs with a view to the next Agriculture Council. Council experts insist not only on the compatibility of this regulation with that which established the European Food Safety Authority, but also on the need to avoid overlapping with the future Commission proposals aimed at consolidating, updating and simplifying the current food legislation.