Brussels, 20/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 20 July, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the obstacles that companies - in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - face when conducting cross-border business in the EU and on the content of a possible European Private Company Statute. Responses will be taken into account in a forthcoming impact assessment and possible legislative proposal. The questionnaire (available online at: http: //ec.europa.eu/internal_market/company/epc/index_en.htm) is divided in two sets of questions. The first set is addressed to businesses, and in particular to the management of SMEs and larger companies. These questions ask for evidence of the legal and other barriers that companies face when they conduct business through an establishment (subsidiary or branch) in another member state. Respondents' views are also requested on the appropriateness of a new European legal form. The second set is more legal in approach and seeks to gather stakeholders' opinions on the content of a possible Statute. Responses should be sent by 31 October 2007 to DG MARKT Unit F2, European Commission, B-1049 Brussels or to Markt-F2@ec.europa.eu (hb)