 more efficiently if we offer a lot more incentives for settling disputes than we do at present. I have to declare an interest here, not a financial one but an emotional one, since I am chairman of the Dutch Foundation of consumer dispute settlement committees. This currently comprises twenty five or so committees, in which independent rulings are handed down by consumers and representatives of various industries and manufacturers, and it works extremely well. I think we should do rather more in this area, and perhaps because I am proud of what we have achieved in the Netherlands with consumer bodies, I think we should enable more people to benefit from our experience than we do at present.
Then there is a question which came up yesterday too. As I recall, Mrs Behrendt said something about it. I refer to the Green Paper on food. I do not know what is happening about this. Will the Green Paper have to be adjusted in the light of all the new agreements and all the new policy measures we are busy shaping? Can we perhaps have an answer on this? Because if we are to act to calm the fears of the European consumer I think we have firstly to act fast and secondly we have to know the deadlines to which we are working and what changes are likely to come.
We are going to be talking about financial services this afternoon, so I will not go into those now.
In conclusion, something I would have liked to see in the proposals but which is not there: how will the European Commission, possibly in conjunction with European consumer bodies and with business and industry, go about getting rules established through self-regulation in areas where there is no legislation and where legislation is perhaps not needed? Perhaps we might see a list of proposed measures here too?

Riis-Jørgensen
Mr President, the Liberal Group can express nothing but great satisfaction with the Whitehead report and its attempt to introduce a system of priorities. One of our great concerns in the Liberal Group is that we not only create a Europe for companies, but also a Europe for citizens, a significant aspect of which is a Europe for consumers. There are two important aspects which we would emphasize. One of these is the consumer's freedom of choice, and the other is the consumer's access to the courts. I will not go into the latter because the last three speakers have already spoken on this at length.
But the question of the consumer's freedom of choice is very, very important. We in the Liberal Group are staunch supporters of the internal market, but the counterpart
more efficiently if we offer a lot more incentives for settling dispute than we cause at present. I have to declare an interest here, not a fiscal one but an emotional one, since I am chairman of the Dutch Foundation of consumer dispute settlement committee. This currently comprises twenty five or thus committees, in which independent opinion are handed down by consumers and representatives of various diligence and manufacturers, and it works extremely well. I think we should do preferably more in this area, and perhaps because I am proud of what we have achieve in the Netherlands with consumer bodies, I think we should enable more citizenry to benefit from our experience than we make at present. 
 Then there is a question which came up yesterday too. As I recall, Mrs Behrendt allege something about it. I refer to the Green Paper on food. I do not know what is happening about this. Will the Green Paper have to be adjusted in the inner light of all the new agreements and all the new policy measures we are busy shaping? Can we perhaps have an answer on this? Because if we are to act to steady the fears of the European consumer I think we receive first to dissemble fast and secondly we have to acknowledge the deadlines to which we are working and what changes are likely to derive. 
 We are going to be talking about financial services this afternoon, so I will not go into those immediately. 
 In conclusion, something I would have liked to see in the proposals but which is not there: how will the European Commission, possibly in junction with European consumer bodies and with commercial enterprise and industry, go about getting rules established through self - rule in areas where there is no legislation and where legislation is perhaps not needed? Perhaps we might see a list of proposed measures here besides? 

 Riis - Jørgensen 
 Mr President, the Liberal Group can express nothing but capital satisfaction with the Whitehead report and its attack to introduce a system of priorities. One of our great business in the Liberal Group is that we not only produce a Europe for companies, but also a Europe for citizens, a significant aspect of which is a Europe for consumer. There are two important aspects which we would underscore. One of these is the consumer's freedom of choice, and the other is the consumer's access to the courts. I will not rifle into the latter because the last three speakers have already talk on this at length. 
 But the question of the consumer's freedom of choice is very, very important. We in the Liberal Group are staunch assistant of the internal market, but the counterpart
 moge efficiently if we offtr a lot more incgnrives hor setfling dirputes than we do at present. I have to declare an interesg here, non a finanxial ine but an emotional one, dincz M am chairman on the Dutch Foundation of cundumer dispute settlement committees. This cirgently comprisgs twtntr fibv ir so committees, in which indspendenu rulings are handrd down by consumers and rfpredentatives of varilus industrues wbd manufactufers, and iu corks extrejely well. I think we should do fathex more in tyiw agga, and perha's becwuse I am proud of wvat we nave achieved ln thx Nerherlands with consumxr bodies, I think we should etayle more people to bebedit ftom ogr ebperkende tgan we do at presenf.
Then there is a question whicn sqme up yestersay toj. Ws I recall, Mrs Behrendt said something abkut it. I refer to the Geeen Paper on food. I fo not knjw what is happening about this. Will the Green Pa[er hevd ti ne aahudted in the light of all the new agreements ags slk the new poligy measures we are bksu shaping? Can de perkzpa have an answer oj this? Fecauwe if we wre yo act to calm the fears of the Europeau cinsumer I think we have firstuy tp act fast and secondly we hcve to know the dfadlines fu which we are wurkpng dnd what changes are likelr to come.
Xe arz going go bg talkigg about flnancldl services this avternlot, so I wilp not go into those now.
In conclnxion, somethimg I fould hare likcd to see in thq proposals buj which if not there: how will tie European Sommission, povdibly in conounction rith Euripean cuvsumer bodies snd with ybsiness abd industry, go abomt gejtjng rules estaboisyed through selg-reeulwtpon ig areas where thefe kx no uegislaunon xnd ehere legislation is pergaps not needed? Pethwps we mught see a list of prpposed measures hege tom?

Rims-Jørgemseg
Mr President, the Liberal Groul can expgesf nothing bue grcat fatisfactipn with the Whitehead report and its atvempt to introduce a sistem of priorities. Oue of our greet conserns in dhe Liberal Group is that we not only create a Europe for dompanhes, bkt also a Europe for citizens, a significant aspect of which is a Europe fir consumers. There are two pmpjxtant afpecvs which we would vmphasize. One of these is the coisumer's fraebom of choice, and the other ix ghe consumer's access to the courts. I sill not go into the latter because the last three speakers havc already spoksn on ngir at length.
But the questnon of the cobsumcr's freedom of chpige is very, verb ijportant. We in the Liberal Group are sraknch supporters mf the intevnxl matket, but the counterpart
more efficiently if we offer a lot for disputes than do at present. interest not a financial but an emotional since I am chairman of the Foundation of consumer dispute settlement committees. This currently comprises twenty five or so in which independent rulings are handed down by consumers and representatives of various and and works well. I think we should do rather more in this area, and perhaps because I am of what we have achieved in the Netherlands consumer bodies, I think should enable more people to from experience than do present. there is a which came up yesterday too. As I recall, Mrs Behrendt said something about it. I refer to Green Paper I do know is about this. Will Paper have to be adjusted in all the new agreements and all the new measures we busy shaping? Can we perhaps have answer on this? Because if we are to to calm the fears of the European consumer I think we have firstly to act secondly we have to the deadlines to we working what are likely come. We are going to be talking about financial services this so I will not go into those now. In conclusion, would liked to see the proposals but which not how will the European in with and business industry, go about getting established through self-regulation in areas there is no legislation not needed? Perhaps we might see a list proposed measures here too? Riis-Jørgensen Mr President, Liberal Group can express nothing but great satisfaction with the Whitehead report its attempt a system of priorities. One of our great in the Liberal Group that we not only create a Europe for companies, also Europe for a significant aspect which is a for consumers. There important aspects we emphasize. is the consumer's freedom of choice, the is the consumer's access to courts. not go into the latter because the last three speakers have already spoken on this But the question of consumer's of choice is very, very important. We in the Liberal Group are of the internal
 more efficiently if we offer a Lot more incEntivEs fOr sEtTlinG disPutes than we do aT PresEnt. I have to declare an intErest HeRE, not A FiNanciAl one buT An EMOtiOnAl One, SiNCe i am chAirMan of thE Dutch FounDatIoN of consumer dISpUte settlemEnt Committees. ThIs cUrrentLy ComPRises TweNty fiVe or so COmmittEes, in whicH iNDependENt rulinGS ArE hanDed down by consumerS AnD RepresentativeS of varIoUS iNDUstRieS and manufaCtUrers, ANd it worKS eXTREmeLY well. I think we Should do ratHEr mOre in tHiS arEA, and peRhaps BeCAusE I am proud of What We have achIeved iN The NethERlands wIth conSumEr bOdieS, i tHiNk wE sHOulD EnAblE MorE people tO bEnEfit fRom oUR EXPeriEncE thaN we do At present.
Then TheRe is A QueStion Which Came Up YesteRday toO. As I rEcAll, Mrs Behrendt sAid sOmething aBouT iT. I rEfEr to tHE Green papEr oN food. I dO not knoW WhaT iS HAPpEning about this. Will ThE gReEn Paper hAve to bE AdJuSTed in the LiGht Of alL THe new AgreEMeNts and alL the neW PoLiCy measuReS we are BuSy sHapIng? CaN We peRhaps hAve an ansWer on THis? Because if we ARe to act to calm THe FEArS Of thE EuRopean consuMer I THink We haVE fIrsTLy to aCt fasT aND sECondly we have to know tHe DeadliNes to Which we are worKing and whaT CHAnges are LikeLY tO Come.
We are going To be tAlking abouT FinanciaL servIces this Afternoon, SO i will not Go iNto ThoSe nOW.
in Conclusion, somETHing i wOuld havE liKed to seE in The ProPosAlS but which Is not theRe: HoW wIlL thE EuroPEan CommiSsIon, PoSsiBly in COnjuncTion wIth EUrOpEAn cOnsumer BOdIES and WiTh BusiNesS aNd indUstrY, Go aBout getTing rules EstABlisHeD tHrough sElf-regulation In Areas where ThEre Is no leGISlation aNd where legislation is perHAps not nEedEd? PerHaps We might seE a lIst of pRopOSed meaSures hEre toO?

RIis-jØRgensEN
mr preSiDent, the LibERAl GRoup cAn ExprEss nothIng but great satisfaCTioN with the WhiteHeaD repORT aNd iTS aTTemPt TO inTROduce a system of pRiorities. ONe OF oUr great conCErnS iN the LibEral GroUp is tHAt we not Only creatE a Europe fOr CompANIes, But also a EuRope for cItizens, a sIGnifiCAnT aspeCt oF which Is A EuRope fOr consUMerS. TherE are twO iMportaNt aspEcTs which wE would emphasize. One of theSe is thE consUmeR's freedom Of cHOicE, and the otHer iS the consumEr's AccEss to The COurts. i wilL NoT go INto thE latTEr because THe LasT THrEe speakers hAVE AlrEady sPokEN on thiS at lEngth.
But the questiON of the consumer'S freEDOm oF chOIce iS vEry, very importaNt. WE iN THe LiberaL GRoup are stauNch suppoRtERs of tHe inteRnal maRket, but THE cOUnterpArt
 more efficiently if we of fer a lotmoreinc ent iv es f or s ettling disput e s th an we do at present. I  have  t o  dec l ar e aninteres t  h e r e,no ta f in a nc ial o nebut anemotionalone ,since I am c h ai rman of th e D utch Foundat ion  of co ns ume r  disp ute  sett lement commit tees. Thi sc urrent l y compr i s es  twe nty five or so co m mi t tees, in which  indep en d en t rul ing s are hand ed  down by cons u me r s and representativ es of vario u s i ndustr ie s a n d manu factu re r s,and it work s ex tremely w ell. I think w e  should  do ra the r m orei nth isar e a,a nd  pe r hap s becaus eIam pr oudo f w hatwehave  achi eved in the N eth erla n dswithconsu merbo dies,  I thi nk we  s hould enable mo re p eople toben ef itfr om ou r  exper ien cethan we  do atp res en t . Th en there is a ques ti o n  w hich cam e up y e st er d ay too.As  Ireca l l , Mrs  Beh r en dt saidsometh i ng  a bout it .I refe rtothe  Gree n  Pap er onfood. Ido no t  know what ish appening abou t  t h i s. Will  th e Green Pap er h a ve t o be ad jus t ed in  theli g ht of all the new agre em ents a nd al l the new pol icy measur e s we are b usys ha p ing? Can we pe rhaps  have an a n swer onthis?  Because  if we ar e to act t o c alm  th e f e a rs  of the Europ e a n co ns umer Ithi nk we h ave  fi rst lyto  act fast  and sec on dl ywe  ha ve to know the  d ead li nes  to w h ich we  arework in ga ndwhat ch a ng e s  are  l ik elytoco me.
W e ar e  go ing tobe talkin g a b outfi na ncial s ervices thisaf ternoon, s oI w ill no t go intothose now.
In conclusio n , somet hin g I w ould  have lik edto see  in the pr oposal s but  w hic h is no t th ere :how will t h e  Eu ropea nComm ission,  possibly in conju n cti on with Europ ean  con s u me r b o di e s a nd wit h business and in dustry, go  a b ou t gettingr ule sestabli shed th rough self-re gulationin areaswh eret h ere  is no leg islation  and wher e  legi s la tionisperhap snot  need ed? Pe r hap s wemightse e a li st of  p roposedmeasures here too?

Rii s-Jørg ensen 
Mr  Presiden t,t heLiberal G roup  can expre ssnot hingbut great  sat i sf act i on wi th t h e Whitehe a drep o r tand its att e m p t t o int rod u ce a s yste m of priorities.O ne of our grea t co n c ern s i n  the  L iberal Group i s t ha t we not o nl y create aEurope f or compa nies,but al so a Eu r o pe for ci tize ns,  a signif ica nt aspectof  w h ich is  a E ur ope fo r cons u mers . There are two im porta n t  aspe c tswhich  w e would emph asize. One  of these i s thecons umer' s freed om  of ch oic e,  and the o t her is th e con sumer's  a cces s t o thecour t s . I w illno t g o into th e la t te rb eca usethe l as t th ree speak e rs havealr e ady spo ke n o n this a t  l e n gth.
But t hequest i o n of the c o nsum e r' s  free dom of  choic e is ve r y,ve ry impo rta n t . We in t he Libera l  Gr ou p ar e staunc hsupp or ter sof the internal  market,  but the c ounter par t 
 more_efficiently if_we offer a lot_more incentives_for_settling disputes_than_we do at_present. I have_to declare an interest_here, not a_financial_one but an emotional one, since I am chairman of the Dutch Foundation of_consumer_dispute settlement_committees._This_currently comprises twenty five or_so committees, in which independent_rulings are_handed down by consumers and representatives of various_industries_and manufacturers, and_it works extremely well. I think we should do_rather more in this area, and_perhaps because I_am_proud_of what we have_achieved in the Netherlands with consumer_bodies, I think we should enable_more people to benefit from our experience_than we do at present.
Then there_is a question which came_up yesterday_too. As I recall, Mrs_Behrendt said something_about it._I refer to_the Green Paper on food. I_do not know_what is happening about this. Will_the_Green Paper have_to_be_adjusted in_the light of_all_the new_agreements_and all the new policy measures_we_are busy shaping? Can we perhaps have_an answer on this?_Because_if we are to_act to calm the fears_of the European consumer I think_we have_firstly to_act fast and secondly we have to know the deadlines to_which we are working and what_changes are likely to_come.
We are_going_to be talking_about_financial services_this afternoon, so I will not go_into those_now.
In conclusion, something I would have_liked to see in_the_proposals but which is not there:_how will the European Commission, possibly_in conjunction with European consumer_bodies_and_with business and industry, go_about getting rules established through self-regulation_in areas where_there is no legislation and where legislation_is_perhaps not needed? Perhaps we might_see_a list of proposed measures here_too?

Riis-Jørgensen
Mr_President,_the Liberal Group can express_nothing but great satisfaction with the_Whitehead report and its attempt to introduce a system_of priorities. One_of our great concerns in_the_Liberal_Group is that we not only create a Europe for_companies, but_also a Europe_for citizens, a significant aspect of which is a Europe_for consumers. There are two important aspects_which we would emphasize. One of these is the consumer's freedom_of choice, and the other is the consumer's_access to the courts. I will not_go into the latter_because_the last three speakers have already spoken_on_this_at_length.
But the question_of the consumer's_freedom of choice_is very,_very important. We_in the_Liberal Group are_staunch_supporters of the internal market, but the counterpart