 announced for 1996. We are still waiting for it. It has, if we reflect on this week's BSE discussion, become even more urgent. What is the Commission doing? Announcing that it will bring an action against Germany and possibly two other Member States before the European Court of Justice for having excessively strict national legislation on pesticide levels in baby food! Does the Commission somehow believe that parents will comprehend such a measure? This Parliament has always insisted that baby food must be free of pesticides.
We shall be going on to discuss the report on consumer credit and the report on the Green Paper on financial services. Both reports show where legislation is urgently required. Cast off your diffidence, Commissioners! In matters of consumer protection, we as a Parliament are right behind the Commission!

Oomen-Ruijten
Mr President, first of all I must thank Philip Whitehead for the enormous amount of work he has put in on this. Why do I make a point of saying that? Because, and the Commissioner should take this a little bit to heart, the communication on priorities we are considering is to my mind far, far too wide-ranging. I think the priorities for 96-98 leave a lot to be desired. And I am thus grateful to the rapporteur for having achieved an appropriate result. I totally agree with Mr Whitehead that the communication should have been a far more detailed, more thoroughly thought-out programme and that it should have indicated how and in what way the Commission intends to attain the objectives it has set itself, and with which I have no problem as such. It should in my view have included a far clearer list, with priorities.
May I pick out a number of sticking points? Firstly the question of legal redress. A Green Paper came out more than three years ago. In connection with the item of legislation for which I was rapporteur we said that at all costs the right of collective action, in whatever form, had to be established and I know that some Member States had a lot of difficulty approving the directive on distance selling. But anyway, my question is this: how are you going to establish this and what proposals are you going to come forward with? I think the Green Paper which you produced three years ago ought to have generated some action in some form or another.
And I also urge the House to consider extrajudicial procedures. You may think I am riding my pet hobbyhorse here, and I am, but I think we can often help the consumer far faster, more cheaply and
announced for 1996. We are still waiting for it. It has, if we chew over on this workweek's BSE discussion, become even more pressing. What is the Commission doing? Announcing that it will bring an natural process against Germany and possibly two other Member States before the European Court of Justice for having excessively rigid home legislation on pesticide levels in baby food! Does the Commission somehow believe that parents will comprehend such a meter? This Parliament has always insisted that child food must be free of pesticides. 
 We shall be going on to discuss the report on consumer credit and the report on the Green Paper on fiscal services. Both reports show where legislation is urgently ask. Cast off your diffidence, Commissioners! In matters of consumer protective covering, we as a Parliament are right behind the Commission! 

 Oomen - Ruijten 
 Mr President, foremost of all I must thank Philip Whitehead for the enormous amount of oeuvre he has put in on this. Why do I make a point of allege that? Because, and the Commissioner should take this a little bit to heart, the communication on priorities we are regard is to my mind far, far too wide - ranging. I think the priorities for 96 - 98 leave a lot to be desired. And I am thus grateful to the rapporteur for having achieved an appropriate consequence. I totally agree with Mr Whitehead that the communication should have been a far more detailed, more thoroughly think - out broadcast and that it should have indicated how and in what way the Commission intends to fall upon the objectives it has set itself, and with which I have no problem as such. It should in my horizon have included a far clearer list, with priorities. 
 May I nibble out a number of sticking points? Firstly the doubt of legal redress. A Green Paper come out more than three years ago. In connection with the item of legislation for which I was rapporteur we said that at all costs the right field of collective action, in whatever form, had to be established and I know that some Member States had a lot of difficulty approve the directive on distance selling. But anyway, my motion is this: how are you going to establish this and what proposal are you going to arrive forward with? I remember the Green Paper which you produced three days ago ought to have generated some action in some shape or another. 
 And I also cheer the House to consider extrajudicial procedures. You may think I am riding my pet hobbyhorse here, and I am, but I think we can often help the consumer far quicker, more cheaply and
 anjounced for 1996. We are stilu waiting for ij. Ut has, if we reflect on this week's BSE discussioi, bexome tnen more urgent. What ks the Colmission doiig? Announcing thef it will brihn an ccvion against Getmany and povsibly two othar Mzmber States before the European Couwt of Jishice for havind exbefsivsly strict national legislation on pesticpde levels in babu food! Does the Commission somfhow believe that oarents wilo coiprehend such a measure? This Parliajent has always insisted that bxby fpod must bg rrfg of pesticives.
We fhall be goikb on tm discuxs the report pn ronsymer credit and the rxport on the Green Pwper on fhncncial services. Both eeports shof whdee uegjskafion id ucgently reqhired. Cast iff your diffidence, Cjnmissioners! Ih mattqrf of consumer protection, we as a Parliakenf are right behind the Xommission!

Oomen-Ruijtej
Mr Presiqent, first of all I must thank Philip Whitehead fmr thx dnoxnous xnoknt of work he has put in on this. Why do I mahs s ioint of saying tmat? Because, and thr Fokiissioner shoold takz tgis a little bit tl heart, the xommunicauion pn priorities we are considwring is to it mind far, far too wide-ranginy. I thonk tne priorities for 96-98 leavz a lof to be deslred. And J am thus gratefuu tp dhe rapporteur for having wchieved en ap'ropriatd rexult. I totally ahree with Mr Whitehead tjat tke cokmunicatioj should have been a far more dxvailed, more tnosouchly thobght-oub programme and that it shoulb have iudicatdd how and in whav way the Coimission intetfs to attain the objqctices ut has rdt itself, and eith whick I hqve no problem as xucf. It should in mv ciew have incluced a sag ckewser list, witv prkorkyies.
Mxy I pick omt x nukber of sticking poitts? Rirstly the questipn of legao redresf. A Green Paprr came out more tjan tiree yxars abo. Yn connection with the item of legislatlon for which I was rapporteur ce said that at all costs the right of cillective action, ib whatever form, had uo be establixhed wnd I knof that some Member Srates had a lot on difficulty approving the dhrectlve on distance selling. But anyway, my question is this: how are you going ro estebjish this ahd wnat pgopjxals awe yln going to come fprward with? I think the Green Peper which yju produced three years ago pueht to have ggnerated some action in soje form pr another.
And I also urge the Hpuse to consider extrajucicial peocedhres. You mey think I am riding my pec hobbthorse yere, and I am, but I yhlnk we can ofttn hzlp the consumer far faster, more xheaplt wnd
announced for 1996. We are still waiting It if we on this week's urgent. is the Commission Announcing that it bring an action against Germany and two other Member States before the European Court of Justice for having excessively national legislation on pesticide levels in baby food! Does the Commission somehow believe parents comprehend a This Parliament has always insisted that baby food must be free of pesticides. We shall be on to discuss the report on consumer credit the report on the Paper on financial services. Both show legislation is required. off diffidence, Commissioners! In of consumer protection, we as a Parliament are right behind the Commission! Oomen-Ruijten Mr President, first of I must Whitehead for enormous of he has put this. Why do I make a that? Because, and the Commissioner should take this little bit heart, the communication on priorities we considering is to my mind far, far too I think the priorities for 96-98 leave a lot to be desired. And I am to the rapporteur for achieved an appropriate I agree Mr that the should have been a far more detailed, more thoroughly thought-out programme that it should have indicated how and in what way intends attain the objectives has set itself, and which have no problem as should my a clearer with priorities. May I out a number of sticking Firstly the question of came out more than three years ago. In with the item of legislation for which was rapporteur we said that at all costs the right of collective in whatever to be established and I know that some States had a lot difficulty approving the directive on distance selling. But anyway, question this: how you going to this and what are you going forward with? think Green produced three years ago ought to generated action in some form or And urge the House to consider extrajudicial procedures. You may think I am riding my pet and I am, but think can often help the consumer far faster, more cheaply and
 announced for 1996. We are still waiTing for it. IT has, iF we RefLeCt on This Week's BSE discusSIon, bEcome even more urgent. WhaT is thE COMmisSIoN doinG? AnnounCInG THat It WiLl bRiNG aN actiOn aGainst GErmany and pOssIbLy two other MeMBeR States befOre The European COurT of JusTiCe fOR haviNg eXcessIvely sTRict naTional legIsLAtion oN PesticiDE LeVels In baby food! Does the cOmMIssion somehow bElieve ThAT pAREntS wiLl compreheNd Such a MEasure? THIs pARLiaMEnt has always iNsisted that BAby Food muSt Be fREe of peSticiDeS.
we sHall be going On to Discuss thE reporT On consuMEr crediT and thE rePorT on tHE GReEn PApER on FInAncIAl sErvices. BOtH rEportS shoW WHERe leGisLatiOn is uRgently requirEd. CAst oFF yoUr difFidenCe, CoMmIssioNers! In MatteRs Of consumer proteCtioN, we as a ParLiaMeNt aRe Right BEhind tHe COmmIssion!

OOmen-RuiJTen
mr pRESiDent, first of all I musT tHANk philip WhIteheaD FoR tHE enormouS aMouNt of WORk he hAs puT In On this. WhY do I maKE a PoInt of saYiNg that? beCauSe, aNd the cOmmiSsioneR should tAke thIS a little bit to hEArt, the communiCAtION oN PrioRitIes we are conSideRIng iS to mY MiNd fAR, far tOo widE-rANgINg. I think the prioritiEs For 96-98 leaVe a loT to be desired. ANd I am thus gRATEful to thE rapPOrTEur for having acHieveD an approprIAte resulT. I totAlly agreE with Mr WhITEhead thaT thE coMmuNicATIoN should have beEN A far MoRe detaiLed, More thoRouGhlY thOugHt-Out prograMme and thAt It ShOuLd hAve inDIcated hoW aNd iN wHat Way thE commisSion iNtenDs To ATtaIn the obJEcTIVes iT hAs Set iTseLf, And wiTh whICh I Have no pRoblem as sUch. iT shoUlD iN my view Have included a FaR clearer liSt, WitH priorITIes.
May I pIck out a number of sticking POints? FiRstLy the QuesTion of legAl rEdress. a GrEEn PapeR came oUt morE tHan THRee yeARS aGo. IN cOnnection wITH thE item Of LegiSlation For which I was rapporTEur We said that at aLl cOsts THE rIghT Of COllEcTIve ACTion, in whatever fOrm, had to be EsTAbLished and I KNow ThAt some MEmber StAtes hAD a lot of DifficultY approvinG tHe diRECtiVe on distanCe sellinG. But anywaY, My queSTiOn is tHis: How are YoU goIng to EstablISh tHis anD what pRoPosals Are yoU gOing to coMe forward with? I think the GReen PaPer whIch You producEd tHRee Years ago oUght To have geneRatEd sOme acTioN In somE forM Or AnoTHer.
AnD I alSO urge the HOUsE to CONsIder extrajuDICIal ProceDurES. You maY thiNk I am riding my pet hOBbyhorse here, anD I am, BUT I tHinK We caN oFten help the conSumEr FAR faster, mOrE cheaply and
 announced for 1996. We ar e still wa iting  fo r i t.  Ithas,  if we reflect on t his week's BSE discuss ion,be c omee ve n mor e urgen t .W h atis  t heCo m mi ssion  do ing? An nouncing t hat  i t will bring an  action ag ain st Germany a ndpossib ly  tw o  othe r M ember  State s  befor e the Eur op e an Cou r t of Ju s t ic e fo r having excessiv e ly strict nationa l legi sl a ti o n  on  pe sticide le ve ls in baby fo o d! D o est he Commission  somehow be l iev e that  p are n ts wil l com pr e hen d such a me asur e? This P arliam e nt hasa lways i nsiste d t hat  bab y  f oo d m us t  be fr eeo f p esticide s. 
W e sha ll b e g o ingonto d iscus s the reportoncons u mer  cred it an d th erepor t on t he Gr ee n Paper on fina ncia l service s.Bo thre ports show w her e l egislat ion isu rge nt l y re quired. Cast off y ou r di ffidence , Comm i ss io n ers! Inma tte rs o f consu merp ro tection,  we as aPa rliamen tare ri gh t b ehi nd th e  Com missio n!

Oome n-Rui j ten
Mr Preside n t, first of a l lI mu s t th ank  Philip Whi tehe a d fo r th e  e nor m ous a mount  o f  w o rk he has put in on  t his. W hy do  I make a poi nt of sayi n g that? Be caus e ,a nd the Commiss ioner  should ta k e this a  litt le bit t o heart,t h e commun ica tio n o n p r i or ities we arec o nsid er ing istomy mind  fa r,far  to owide-rang ing. I t hi nk  t he  pr iorit i es for 9 6- 98le ave  a lo t  to be  desi red.  A nd I a m thusg ra t e fulto  t he r app or teurforh avi ng achi eved an a ppr o pria te  r esult.I totally agr ee  with Mr W hi teh ead th a t  the com munication should haveb een a f armoredeta iled, mor e t horoug hly though t-outprogr am mea n d tha t it  sh ou ld have in d i cat ed ho wandin what  way the Commissio n  in tends to atta intheo b je cti v es itha s  se t itself, and wit h which Iha v eno problem assu ch. Itshouldin my view ha ve includ ed a farcl eare r lis t, with pr iorities .
May I p i ck ou t  a  numb erof sti ck ing  poin ts? Fi r stl y the  quest io n of l egalre dress. A  Green Paper came out m ore th an th ree  years ag o.I n c onnection  wit h the item  of  le gisla tio n  forwhic h  I  wa s  rapp orte u r we said th ata t  a ll costs th e r igh t ofcol l ective  act ion, in whateverf orm, had to be  est a b lis hed andIknow that some  Me mb e r  Statesha d a lot ofdifficul ty appro ving t he dir ectiveo n  d i stance  sel lin g. But an ywa y, my ques ti on is thi s: h ow  are y ou goi n g to e stablish this an d wha t propo s als  areyo u going to c ome forwar d with? I t hink t he G reenPaper w hi ch you  pr od uced three years ago  ough t to ha ve  gen era ted so me a c t ion i n so me  fo rm or ano t h er . 
A nd I a lsourgeth e Ho use to co n sider ex tra j udicial  p roc e d ures.Y ou m ay think I  am  ridi n g  my pet ho b byho r se here,  and I  am, b ut I th i nkwe  can of ten h elp the c onsumer f a r f as ter,  more ch ea plyan d
 announced_for 1996._We are still waiting_for it._It_has, if_we_reflect on this_week's BSE discussion,_become even more urgent._What is the_Commission_doing? Announcing that it will bring an action against Germany and possibly two other_Member_States before_the_European_Court of Justice for having_excessively strict national legislation on_pesticide levels_in baby food! Does the Commission somehow believe_that_parents will comprehend_such a measure? This Parliament has always insisted that_baby food must be free of_pesticides.
We shall be_going_on_to discuss the report_on consumer credit and the report_on the Green Paper on financial_services. Both reports show where legislation is_urgently required. Cast off your diffidence,_Commissioners! In matters of consumer_protection, we_as a Parliament are right_behind the Commission!

Oomen-Ruijten
Mr_President, first_of all I_must thank Philip Whitehead for the_enormous amount of_work he has put in on_this._Why do I_make_a_point of_saying that? Because,_and_the Commissioner_should_take this a little bit to_heart,_the communication on priorities we are considering_is to my mind_far,_far too wide-ranging. I_think the priorities for 96-98_leave a lot to be desired._And I_am thus_grateful to the rapporteur for having achieved an appropriate result. I_totally agree with Mr Whitehead that_the communication should have_been a_far_more detailed, more_thoroughly_thought-out programme_and that it should have indicated how_and in_what way the Commission intends to_attain the objectives it_has_set itself, and with which I_have no problem as such. It_should in my view have_included_a_far clearer list, with priorities.
May_I pick out a number of_sticking points? Firstly_the question of legal redress. A Green_Paper_came out more than three years_ago._In connection with the item of_legislation_for_which I was rapporteur we_said that at all costs the_right of collective action, in whatever form, had to_be established and_I know that some Member_States_had_a lot of difficulty approving the directive on distance selling._But anyway,_my question is_this: how are you going to establish this and what_proposals are you going to come forward_with? I think the Green Paper which you produced three years_ago ought to have generated some action in_some form or another.
And I also urge_the House to consider_extrajudicial_procedures. You may think I am riding_my_pet_hobbyhorse_here, and I_am, but I_think we can_often help_the consumer far_faster, more_cheaply and