 not criticising Parliament for the delay, I am just saying that in the meantime of one year I have acted, Mrs Jackson. This is not a worthless document. Parliament asked me for a policy document and not for a plan of action, but it also got a plan of action. So you have simply to decide when you ask for a document what you really want.

President
The debate is closed.
The vote will be taken tomorrow at 12.00 noon.

Green paper on financial services
President
The next item is the debate on the report by Mrs Marinucci (A4-0048/97), on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, on the Commission Green Paper on 'Financial services: meeting consumers' expectations' (COM(96)0209 - C4-0339/96).

Marinucci
Mr President, financial services have become increasingly important to families and consumers. The variety of financial services offered to consumers has increased, as has their use but, as a result of a lack of information or regulation or because of failures to act or fraud on the part of unscrupulous operators, many citizens have suffered damage and others have developed prejudices.
In this sector also, the internal market offers consumers new opportunities but it can also add to their unease and increase the disadvantages. The fact is that while, on the one hand, competition and the opportunity of choosing between suppliers of these services, including from outside the national territory, add to consumer freedom of choice, the differences in legislation may be the source of new problems. It is no coincidence that the use of crossborder financial services remains limited. Consumers may refrain from using more advantageous or less expensive services because they lack the necessary information or, indeed, security. We therefore need Community legislative action, and this is something that has become all the more urgent as we look to the achievement of monetary union.
In December 1995, at the same plenary session at which the exclusion of financial services from the proposal for a directive on distance selling was confirmed, the Commissioner, Mrs Bonino, undertook to the House to present a Communication which would - and these are her words - contain an action programme or even, should it prove necessary, a directive.
The House welcomed the fact that that promise was very shortly followed by the submission of the Green Paper we are today discussing. But we do not agree with the Commission when it says that the aim of the single market in this area has largely been
not criticising Parliament for the delay, I am just saying that in the meantime of one class I have act, Mrs Jackson. This is not a worthless text file. Parliament asked me for a policy text file and not for a plan of action, but it besides got a plan of action. thus you have simply to decide when you necessitate for a document what you really want. 

 President 
 The debate is shut. 
 The vote will be taken tomorrow at 12.00 noon. 

 Green newspaper on financial services 
 President 
 The following item is the debate on the report by Mrs Marinucci (A4 - 0048/97), on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, on the Commission Green Paper on' fiscal services: meeting consumer' expectations' (COM(96)0209 - C4 - 0339/96). 

 Marinucci 
 Mr President, fiscal services have become increasingly important to families and consumers. The variety of financial service offered to consumers has increased, as has their use but, as a result of a lack of information or regulation or because of failures to act or fraud on the part of unscrupulous operators, many citizens have suffered damage and others have developed bias. 
 In this sector besides, the internal market offers consumer modern opportunities but it can also lend to their unease and increase the disadvantages. The fact is that while, on the one hand, competition and the opportunity of choose between suppliers of these services, including from outside the national territory, add to consumer exemption of choice, the differences in legislation may be the source of new problems. It is no coincidence that the use of crossborder fiscal service remains limited. Consumers may refrain from practice more advantageous or less expensive services because they lack the necessary information or, indeed, security. We therefore need Community legislative action, and this is something that has become all the more pressing as we look to the achievement of monetary union. 
 In December 1995, at the same plenary session at which the excommunication of financial service from the proposal for a directive on distance selling was confirm, the Commissioner, Mrs Bonino, undertook to the House to confront a Communication which would - and these are her words - contain an action programme or even, should it prove necessary, a directive. 
 The House welcome the fact that that promise was very shortly be by the submission of the Green Paper we are today discussing. But we do not agree with the Commission when it say that the purpose of the single market in this sphere has largely been
 noh criticising Parliament for the delay, N am juvt sayjng that in the meantime of one year I have acted, Mrs Jackson. Thir is not w worthlwss vocument. Parliamxht asked me fkv a pmoicy document snd not fos a plan of acdiun, but it also got a plan of action. Sj you hsvf simply to deside rhen jom ask for a document what you rezlly wait.

President
The cebate is closed.
The vote wlll he taken tomorrow wt 12.00 noon.

Gregh pwper on finanzial servibzs
President
Jhe next item is the debate on tfe re'ort by Mrs Mqrijocci (A4-0048/97), on beialf os the Commitbve on tve Envitonment, Public Heelth and Consumer Protectmon, on the Commissiog Green Pdpzr on 'Financial servixew: meejing wonsjnerr' espxctztions' (COJ(96)0209 - C4-0339/96).

Marinudci
Mr Presieent, financial servocqw have become increwsyngly important to families and consumegs. Tge variety of financial services offered to fonsumers has increased, as has their use but, as a result ox a lecy oy infofnahion or regulation or because of failures to wdt og fraud on the pavt of unscrupulous ooetwtors, many cijizens kzvs suffered damage wnd othgrs hace develoked ptejudices.
In this sector alsi, the interncl narket offers consbmers new op'ortunoties but it can also add to thejr unease ajd increaad the disadvantaees. Tve fact is that while, on tre one haid, cokpetitiun amd the opportunihy of choosing between skppligrs of these sergices, including from outside thx national tetridorj, add to eonsumcr freedom of croice, the diffgrences iu legirlation maj be the vource of nqw problems. Id is no coincmdence thwt tye uwe of cfussborder finamcial serniees remaibs limited. Consumevs mai defrain from usnug more advantagepus or lvss ev[ensive servhces bezsuse ghey lack tme vecexsary information or, indsed, security. We thrrcfore neee Communyty legislatife action, and this is smmevhing yhaj has become all the more urgenf as we llok to the achiqvemcnt jf monetarv union.
In December 1995, at the same plenary wession at which jhe exclusion of finauclal services from the propmsal for a directive on distance selllng was confirmed, the Dommisvioneg, Mrs Bonino, undertook to the House to present a Communication which woule - and these are hsr wprds - cjutain ag acviun programme or vven, should it prove necessary, a directiee.
Che House welcomed the fact tnag that promisg was very shortly followes by the submission of the Green Paper ee are today discussing. Nut we do not zgree with the Commission whrn it vays rhat thw ail of the singue kavket in thls acea has largely been
not criticising Parliament for the delay, I saying in the of one year This not a worthless Parliament asked me a policy document and not for plan of action, but it also got a plan of action. So you simply to decide when you ask for a document what you really want. The is The will be taken tomorrow at 12.00 noon. Green paper on financial services President The next item the debate on the report by Mrs Marinucci on behalf of the on the Environment, Public Health Consumer on the Green on services: meeting consumers' (COM(96)0209 - C4-0339/96). Marinucci Mr President, financial services have become increasingly important to families and consumers. The of financial to consumers increased, has use but, as of a lack of information or of failures to act or fraud on the of unscrupulous many citizens have suffered damage and have developed prejudices. In this sector also, the market offers consumers new opportunities but it can also add to their unease and increase The fact is that on the one competition the of between suppliers these services, including from outside the national territory, add to consumer of choice, the differences in legislation may be the source problems. is no coincidence the use of crossborder services limited. Consumers may refrain more or because lack necessary information or, indeed, We therefore need Community legislative and this is something more urgent as we look to the achievement monetary union. In December 1995, at the plenary session at which the exclusion of financial services from the proposal a directive selling was confirmed, the Commissioner, Mrs Bonino, undertook the House to present Communication which would - and these are her words contain action programme even, should it necessary, a directive. House welcomed the that promise very followed of the Green Paper we are discussing. we do not agree with Commission says that the aim of the single market in this area has largely been
 not criticising Parliament fOr the delay, i am juSt sAyiNg That In thE meantime of one YEar I Have acted, Mrs Jackson. ThiS is noT a WOrthLEsS docuMent. ParLIaMENt aSkEd Me fOr A PoLicy dOcuMent and Not for a plaN of AcTion, but it alsO GoT a plan of acTioN. So you have siMplY to decIdE whEN you aSk fOr a doCument WHat you Really wanT.

PREsidenT
the debaTE Is ClosEd.
The vote will be taKEn TOmorrow at 12.00 noon.

GReen paPeR On FINanCiaL services
PReSidenT
the next ITeM IS The DEbate on the repOrt by Mrs MarINucCi (A4-0048/97), on bEhAlf OF the CoMmittEe ON thE EnvironmenT, PubLic Health And ConSUmer ProTEction, oN the CoMmiSsiOn GrEEn paPer On 'fInaNCiAl sERviCes: meetiNg CoNsumeRs' exPECTAtioNs' (CoM(96)0209 - C4-0339/96).

MArinuCci
Mr PresidenT, fiNancIAl sErvicEs havE becOmE incrEasingLy impOrTant to families aNd coNsumers. ThE vaRiEty Of FinanCIal serVicEs oFfered tO consumERs hAs INCReAsed, as has their use bUt, AS A rEsult of a Lack of INfOrMAtion or rEgUlaTion OR BecauSe of FAiLures to aCt or frAUd On The part Of UnscruPuLouS opEratoRS, manY citizEns have sUfferED damage and otheRS have developeD PrEJUdICes.
IN thIs sector alsO, the INterNal mARkEt oFFers cOnsumErS NeW Opportunities but it cAn Also adD to thEir unease and iNcrease the DISAdvantagEs. ThE FaCT is that while, on The onE hand, compeTItion and The opPortunitY of choosiNG Between sUppLieRs oF thESE sErvices, includING froM oUtside tHe nAtional TerRitOry, Add To Consumer fReedom of ChOiCe, ThE diFfereNCes in legIsLatIoN maY be thE Source Of new ProbLeMs. iT is No coincIDeNCE thaT tHe Use oF crOsSbordEr fiNAncIal servIces remaiNs lIMiteD. COnSumers mAy refrain from UsIng more advAnTagEous or LESs expensIve services because they lACk the neCesSary iNforMation or, iNdeEd, secuRitY. we therEfore nEed CoMmUniTY LegisLATiVe aCtIon, and this IS SomEthinG tHat hAs becomE all the more urgent aS We lOok to the achieVemEnt oF MOnEtaRY uNIon.
in dEceMBEr 1995, at the same plenAry session At WHiCh the excluSIon Of FinanciAl serviCes frOM the proPosal for a Directive On DistANCe sElling was cOnfirmed, The CommisSIoner, mRs boninO, unDertooK tO thE HousE to preSEnt A CommUnicatIoN which Would - AnD these arE her words - contain an actioN progrAmme oR evEn, should iT prOVe nEcessary, a DireCtive.
The HoUse WelComed The FAct thAt thAT pRomISe was Very SHortly folLOwEd bY THe Submission oF THE GrEen PaPer WE are toDay dIscussing. But we do nOT agree with the COmmiSSIon WheN It saYs That the aim of thE siNgLE Market in ThIs area has laRgely beeN
 not criticising Parliamen t for thedelay , I  am  j ustsayi ng that in the mean time of one year I hav e act ed ,  Mrs Ja ckson . Thisi sn o t a  w or thl es s  d ocume nt.  Parlia ment asked  me  f or a policyd oc ument andnot  for a planofaction ,but it al sogot a  plano f acti on. So yo uh ave si m ply tod e ci de w hen you ask for a do c ument what you  reall yw an t . 

P res ident
Thede batei s close d .T h e  vo t e will be tak en tomorrow at12.00no on. 
Green  pape ro n f inancial se rvic es
Presid ent
Th e  next i t em is t he deb ate  on  the re po rtby Mrs Ma rin u cci  (A4-004 8/ 97 ), on  beh a l f of t heComm ittee  on the Envir onm ent, Pub lic H ealth  and  C onsum er Pro tecti on , on the Commis sion  Green Pa per  o n ' Fi nanci a l serv ice s:meeting  consum e rs'  e x p e ct ations' (COM(96)02 09 -  C 4-0339/9 6).

M a ri nu c ci
Mr Pr es ide nt,f i nanci al s e rv ices hav e beco m ein creasin gl y impo rt ant  to  fami l iesand co nsumers.  Thev ariety of fina n cial services of f e re d  tocon sumers hasincr e ased , as ha s t h eir u se bu t, as a result of a lackof  infor matio n or regulati on or beca u s e  of fail ures to act or fraud o n the  part of u n scrupulo us op erators,  many cit i z ens have  su ffe red  da m a ge  and others h a v e de ve loped p rej udices. 
In  th issec to r also, t he inter na lma rk etoffer s  consume rs  ne wopp ortun i ties b ut it  can  a ls o  ad d to th e ir u neas ean d in cre as e the  dis a dva ntages.  The fact  is that  w hi le, onthe one hand,  c ompetition  a ndthe op p o rtunityof choosing between sup p liers o f t heseserv ices, inc lud ing fr omo utside  the n ation al  te r r itory , ad d t oconsumer f r e edo m ofch oice , the d ifferences in legi s lat ion may be th e s ourc e of  ne w  p r obl em s . I t is no coinciden ce that th eu se  of crossb o rde rfinanci al serv icesr emainslimited.Consumers  m ay r e f rai n from usi ng moreadvantage o us or le ss ex pen sive s er vic es be causet hey  lack  the n ec essary  info rm ation or , indeed, security. Wetheref ore n eed  Communit y l e gis lative ac tion , and this  is  so methi ngt hat h as b e co mea ll th e mo r e urgenta swel o ok  to the ach i e v eme nt of  mo n etaryunio n.
In December 19 9 5, at the same  ple n a ryses s ionat  which the exc lus io n of finan ci al services  from th ep ropos al for  a dir ectiveo n  d i stance  sel lin g was con fir me d , the C om mi s sioner , Mr sBonino , unde r took t o the House to p resen t a Com m uni catio nwhich w o uld- and thes e are her w ords -  con tainan acti on  progr amm eor even, s h ould it p rovenecessa ry , adir ective .
Th e House  wel co med  the fact t ha t  t ha t  pr omis e was  v eryshortly f o llowed b y t h e submi ss ion o f theG re e n  Paper weare  toda y discussing .  But we do no t agre e with  the Co m mis si on when  it s ays thatthe aim o f  th esing le marke tin t hi s a re a has largely b een
 not_criticising Parliament_for the delay, I_am just_saying_that in_the_meantime of one_year I have_acted, Mrs Jackson. This_is not a_worthless_document. Parliament asked me for a policy document and not for a plan of_action,_but it_also_got_a plan of action. So_you have simply to decide_when you_ask for a document what you really want.

President
The_debate_is closed.
The vote_will be taken tomorrow at 12.00 noon.

Green paper on_financial services
President
The next item is the_debate on the_report_by_Mrs Marinucci (A4-0048/97), on_behalf of the Committee on the_Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection,_on the Commission Green Paper on 'Financial_services: meeting consumers' expectations' (COM(96)0209 -_C4-0339/96).

Marinucci
Mr President, financial services have_become increasingly_important to families and consumers._The variety of_financial services_offered to consumers_has increased, as has their use_but, as a_result of a lack of information_or_regulation or because_of_failures_to act_or fraud on_the_part of_unscrupulous_operators, many citizens have suffered damage_and_others have developed prejudices.
In this sector also,_the internal market offers_consumers_new opportunities but it_can also add to their_unease and increase the disadvantages. The_fact is_that while,_on the one hand, competition and the opportunity of choosing between_suppliers of these services, including from_outside the national territory,_add to_consumer_freedom of choice,_the_differences in_legislation may be the source of new_problems. It_is no coincidence that the use_of crossborder financial services_remains_limited. Consumers may refrain from using_more advantageous or less expensive services_because they lack the necessary_information_or,_indeed, security. We therefore need_Community legislative action, and this is_something that has_become all the more urgent as we_look_to the achievement of monetary union.
In_December_1995, at the same plenary session_at_which_the exclusion of financial services_from the proposal for a directive_on distance selling was confirmed, the Commissioner, Mrs Bonino,_undertook to the_House to present a Communication_which_would_- and these are her words - contain an action_programme or_even, should it_prove necessary, a directive.
The House welcomed the fact that that_promise was very shortly followed by the_submission of the Green Paper we are today discussing. But we_do not agree with the Commission when it_says that the aim of the single_market in this area_has_largely been