Brussels, 22/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is formally requesting all Member States to provide information (that they should have provided by 31 December 2001 at the latest under the 2000 regulation concerning the ozone layer) on progress in restricting substances that damage the ozone layer. Commenting on the sending of these "warning" letters, the first stage in the infringement proceedings outlined in Article 226 of the EC Treaty, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said that all Member States had agreed to help protect the ozone layer, adding that it was now important to check progress to ensure this vital global commitment was actually carried out.