Strasbourg, 26/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Dutch Christian Democrat Wim van Velzen, the Parliament approves the directive concerning the re-use of documents from the public sector. The text seeks to impose minimum harmonisation of rules and national practices on the reuse and commercial exploitation of public sector information. It mainly fixes provisions for making documents available, the time for answering demands and pricing. It also establishes non-discrimination principles, transparency and opening through a ban on agreements of exclusivity. Three amendments have been made to the Council common position by the Parliament. The name of the directive is changed now to cover public sector "information". Then a provision is included so that public sector bodies ensure that the claimants are informed of the means of appeal available to them to challenge the decisions or practices concerning them. Finally, the Member States should ensure that the provisions practised are adopted to facilitate the research for documents available for reuse such as lists, preferably consulted on line, key documents and portals linked to lists of decentralised resources.