Brussels, 16/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission on Tuesday launched an Internet consultation on legal obstacles faced by companies using electronic commerce and other "e-business" applications, such as the differences between national rules on electronic invoicing, or the different legal treatment reserved for on-line and off-line transactions. The Commission hopes better to understand the practical reasons slowing the development of e-business down. The consultation is open to all companies until 7 November 2003. The results will be presented and debated at a conference to be held in March/April 2004 in Brussels. Interested parties can consult the Commission's questionnaire at the following address: http: //europa.eu.int/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm; and general comments can be sent to: entr-ict-e-business-law@cec.eu.int.