Brussels, 04/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Payment Order could come into force shortly, following Tuesday's second reading agreement in the European Parliaments legal affairs committee. MEPs said the outcome of negotiations with the Council had been satisfactory, Member States having accepted, in June, all the amendments adopted by the Parliament in first reading (see EUROPE 9137). In first reading, MEPs amended the European Commission proposal to simplify the procedure further. The European Payment Order should allow citizens and companies to enforce uncontested payments through a harmonised process applicable in the whole of Europe. It will also be possible, for instance, to claim the payment of unpaid bills for purchases made via mail orders or internet retailers through a simple procedure. This new procedure will only apply to international payments. (bc)