Brussels, 19.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - Last Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a communication on the need to enhance trust and confidence in business-to-business (B2B) e-markets to reduce economic risks stemming from unfair or illegal business practices in such markets. In its communication, the Commission stresses that “B2B e-markets have the potential to enhance efficiency by reducing transaction costs and strengthening competition, but such efficiency gains largely depend on the willingness of enterprises to participate in them”. In order to remove the potential barriers to the use of B2B e-markets resulting from a lack of trust and confidence, the Commission foresees taking the following steps:
Analysis, in close cooperation with Member States, of existing national legislation which applies to unfair commercial practices in B2B e-markets, with a view to identifying possible gaps and/or needs for European harmonisation.
Encouragement of the stakeholders to agree on or review codes of conduct with a view to further promoting fair trade principles in B2B e-markets. The Commission is willing to facilitate the process of consensus building between trading partners by bringing together all relevant stakeholders at sectoral level and further explaining the legal requirements to be met.
Launch of a study on the economic impacts of B2B e-markets on competitiveness and productivity of EU enterprises, analysing in particular the direct and indirect costs and benefits incurred by the e-market participants. The results of this study will be further discussed with stakeholders, in order to optimise their business strategies in B2B e-markets.
provision of coherent information on the application of existing competition rules on B2B e-markets, in order to provide guidance for pro-competitive behaviour.
The Commission states in its communication that it will encourage a more intense dialogue between stakeholders involved in B2B e-markets with regard to respecting fair trade principles and security requirements. As a consequence, potential barriers to the participation in such electronic trading forms should be removed, giving a positive impact to the efficiency of business processes and the competitiveness of European enterprises. The communication text may be consulted at the following internet address: http: //europa.eu.int/euro-lex/pri/en/lip/latest/doc/2004/com2004_0479en01.doc