 the labelling of products with environmental and energy information, and to establish consumer legislation in all Member States.
Basically one can divide thoughts about a European consumer policy into two different approaches. One can either, as Mr Whitehead has done, argue for the setting up of European consumer information, with campaigns and information centres, or - and this is the argument which I myself support - one can argue that the already established national consumer organisations should work together for an appropriate re-adjustment, in concrete terms by strengthening BEUC, and then acting jointly in the political arena. I believe we must recognize that it is would be too difficult and too expensive to produce a completely harmonized consumer policy and consumer information system, because the needs are simply too varied. But despite this lack of uniformity, we will of course vote in favour of Mr Whitehead's report.
It is only a proactive consumer policy which can give the EU's internal market its legitimacy and effectiveness. That is why it must begin, first and foremost, with the government conference. It is there that the consumer policy must be strengthened. It must be clear from the introduction to the treaty that the EU gives due consideration to consumer policy, in just the same way as it gives due consideration to sustainable development. The treaty must brace itself for a series of other areas, so that it can also become a clear goal to promote consumer policy considerations and consumer interests. Article 129 A is still lacking a number of points of clarification and improvements. Only in this way can consumer policy take the important position it deserves.

Garosci
Mr President, our work in this House, within this structure, would amount to very little indeed were we not to place consumers at the forefront of all of our activities. A policy on consumers is not in fact a sectoral issue. A sectoral issue may be the crisis in the engineering industry, the banana market or other similar matters, but the consumer should take precedence in every objective we set ourselves, in every activity and in every directive we establish.
Every day, there are thousands of undertakings - small, medium-sized and large - which work, produce, employ, create jobs, development and investment with one prime objective: to work to satisfy consumers.
In that context, we are grateful to the Commissioner for the important document she has drafted and agree with what the rapporteur and Mrs Oomen-Ruijten have said because the fact is that the priorities for action have particularly to be supported at this time.
We welcome in particular the five
the labelling of products with environmental and energy information, and to establish consumer legislation in all Member States. 
 Basically one can separate thought about a European consumer policy into two different approaches. One can either, as Mr Whitehead has done, argue for the context up of European consumer information, with campaigns and data centres, or - and this is the argument which I myself support - one can argue that the already establish national consumer organisations should sour together for an appropriate re - adaptation, in concrete term by strengthening BEUC, and then acting jointly in the political arena. I believe we must recognize that it is would be excessively difficult and too expensive to produce a wholly harmonized consumer policy and consumer information arrangement, because the needs are merely too varied. But despite this lack of uniformity, we will of course vote in favour of Mr Whitehead's report. 
 It is only a proactive consumer policy which can hold the EU's internal market its legitimacy and effectiveness. That is why it must begin, foremost and first, with the politics conference. It is there that the consumer policy must be strengthened. It must be clear from the introduction to the treaty that the EU gives due consideration to consumer policy, in barely the like manner as it gives ascribable circumstance to sustainable exploitation. The treaty must brace itself for a series of early areas, so that it can besides become a clear goal to promote consumer policy consideration and consumer interests. Article 129 A is still lacking a number of point of clarification and improvements. Only in this way can consumer policy claim the important side it deserves. 

 Garosci 
 Mr President, our work in this House, within this structure, would amount to very little indeed were we not to invest consumers at the forefront of all of our activities. A policy on consumer is not in fact a sectoral issue. A sectoral return may be the crisis in the engineering industry, the banana marketplace or other like matters, but the consumer should take priority in every objective we sic ourselves, in every activity and in every directive we prove. 
 Every day, there be thousands of undertakings - small, medium - sized and large - which oeuvre, produce, employ, create jobs, development and investment with one prime objective: to work to meet consumers. 
 In that context, we are grateful to the Commissioner for the important text file she has drafted and agree with what the rapporteur and Mrs Oomen - Ruijten have said because the fact is that the priority for action have particularly to be supported at this prison term. 
 We welcome in particular the five
 thf labelling of products dith environmenjao and xnergy jnformatkon, and to establish consumec letislaupon in all Member Stages.
Basicaply one xan vivide thoughts egout a Cbropezk convnmer policy intp two diffarent approachas. Oue can either, as Mr Whitehead has doge, argur vor the settind up jf Ehgokean consumer information, with cajpaigns and informatoon centres, or - and this id thf argument which I myself supkkrt - one can argje that tht clready estzblished national consumer orgavisatnons should wirk jogether for an aipropriate re-adjustmett, in cpncrete terms ny stcengrhening BEUC, and then acting jointly in the polidieal arena. I believe ww nust tecogtize rhag iu ix sould he voo difficumt and too wxpensive to product a bpmpletely hadmonizqd consumer policy and consumer informatimn aystem, because the needw are simply too varigd. But des[ite this lack of uniformity, we will of course vode in waviuv of Nr Whitehead's report.
It is only a proactive constjet iolicy which can nive the EU's intermap kwrket its legktimacv ahd effectiveness. Tjat is rhy ir must bedin, girst and foremost, with the government bonfwrence. It is there that the cunsuker pplicy must be strengtheued. It must be clfar from ffe introduction go nhe dreaty that the EU gives dte considxratipn to cunsuker pojicy, in judt thc same way as it giges doe convideration to sustainable development. The treaty must btaca inself for a sevies of other aweas, so that ij can alsj becume a cleag goal to promote cogsumer policy fonsideratiois and cogsumwr ibterestr. Article 129 A is still labknng a numver of points of ckarkrication and im'xocements. Only in thks raj cen cogvumer policy takd tfr impurtant kjsltiun iy deserves.

Garosci
Mr [resjdent, our work in yhls House, qithin tris structure, would amount to vtry livtle iideed eerg we not to place consumers at fhe forefgonb of all of otr agtivyties. A pokicy on consumers is not in fact a sectiral issue. A sectoeal issue may be thg cvisis in the engigeering itdustry, the banana mqrket or other sikilar matters, but the consuker sjould take precedence in every objective we set ourselves, in every activiry and in every didectove wv efcablish.
Qverb vay, there are tholsands of undertakings - small, mevium-sized dnb large - which work, produce, ekpuoy, create jocs, development and invesfment wiyh one prime objective: to work yo satisfy consumers.
In tmat contezt, we are ggztxful to the Commissipner fmr thw imporrant document she hax frafted ajd ajrez with what the rapporteur and Mrw Oomeb-Rkijten have said because thc nact ia that the priorities ror zftion have particukarly to be sulported at this time.
Fe welcome in paenicular the fove
the labelling of products with environmental and and establish consumer in all Member thoughts a European consumer into two different One can either, as Mr Whitehead done, argue for the setting up of European consumer information, with campaigns and centres, or - and this is the argument which I myself support - can that already national consumer organisations should work together for an appropriate re-adjustment, in concrete terms by strengthening BEUC, then acting jointly in the political arena. I we must recognize that is would be too difficult too to produce completely consumer and consumer information because the needs are simply too varied. But despite this lack of uniformity, we will of course in favour Whitehead's report. is a consumer policy which the EU's internal market its legitimacy is why it must begin, first and foremost, the government It is there that the consumer must be strengthened. It must be clear from introduction to the treaty that the EU gives due consideration to consumer policy, in just way as it gives consideration to sustainable The must itself a series other areas, so that it can also become a clear goal promote consumer policy considerations and consumer interests. Article 129 A lacking number of points clarification and improvements. Only this can consumer policy take position deserves. our in House, within this structure, amount to very little indeed we not to place all of our activities. A policy on consumers not in fact a sectoral issue. A issue may be the crisis in the engineering industry, the banana market other similar the consumer should take precedence in every objective set ourselves, in every and in every directive we establish. Every day, there thousands undertakings - medium-sized and large which work, produce, create jobs, development with one objective: work In that context, we are grateful the for the important document she drafted with what the rapporteur and Mrs Oomen-Ruijten have said because the fact is that the action have particularly to supported this time. We welcome in particular the five
 the labelling of products witH environmeNtal aNd eNerGy InfoRmatIon, and to establISh coNsumer legislation in all membeR STAtes.
bAsIcallY one can DIvIDE thOuGhTs aBoUT a europEan ConsumeR policy intO twO dIfferent apprOAcHes. One can eIthEr, as Mr WhitehEad Has donE, aRguE For thE seTting Up of EuROpean cOnsumer inFoRMation, WIth campAIGnS and Information centreS, Or - ANd this is the argUment wHiCH I MYSelF suPport - one caN aRgue tHAt the alREaDY EStaBLished nationaL consumer orGAniSationS sHouLD work tOgethEr FOr aN appropriatE re-aDjustment, In concREte termS By strenGtheniNg BeUC, And tHEn AcTinG jOIntLY iN thE PolItical arEnA. I BelieVe we MUST RecoGniZe thAt it iS would be too diFfiCult ANd tOo expEnsivE to pRoDuce a CompleTely hArMonized consumer PoliCy and consUmeR iNfoRmAtion SYstem, bEcaUse The needS are simPLy tOo VARIeD. But despite this lacK oF UNiFormity, wE will oF CoUrSE vote in fAvOur Of Mr wHIteheAd's rEPoRt.
It is onLy a proACtIvE consumEr Policy WhIch Can Give tHE EU's InternAl market Its leGItimacy and effeCTiveness. That iS WhY IT mUSt beGin, First and forEmosT, With The gOVeRnmENt conFerenCe. iT iS There that the consumeR pOlicy mUst be Strengthened. IT must be cleAR FRom the inTrodUCtIOn to the treaty tHat thE EU gives duE ConsiderAtion To consumEr policy, iN JUst the saMe wAy aS it GivES DuE consideratioN TO susTaInable dEveLopment. the TreAty MusT bRace itselF for a serIeS oF oThEr aReas, sO That it caN aLso BeComE a cleAR goal tO promOte cOnSuMEr pOlicy coNSiDERatiOnS aNd coNsuMeR inteRestS. artIcle 129 A is Still lackIng A NumbEr Of Points oF clarificatioN aNd improvemEnTs. ONly in tHIS way can cOnsumer policy take the impORtant poSitIon it DeseRves.

GarosCi
MR PresiDenT, Our worK in thiS HousE, wIthIN This sTRUcTurE, wOuld amount TO VerY littLe IndeEd were wE not to place consumeRS at The forefront oF alL of oUR AcTivITiES. A pOlICy oN COnsumers is not in Fact a sectoRaL IsSue. A sectorAL isSuE may be tHe crisiS in thE EngineeRing indusTry, the banAnA marKET or Other similAr matterS, but the coNSumer SHoUld taKe pRecedeNcE in Every ObjectIVe wE set oUrselvEs, In everY actiViTy and in eVery directive we establisH.
Every Day, thEre Are thousaNds OF unDertakingS - smaLl, medium-siZed And Large - WhiCH work, ProdUCe, EmpLOy, creAte jOBs, developMEnT anD INvEstment with ONE PriMe objEctIVe: to woRk to Satisfy consumers.
IN That context, we aRe grATEfuL to THe CoMmIssioner for the ImpOrTANt documeNt She has draftEd and agrEe WIth whAt the rApportEur and MRS ooMEn-RuijTen hAve Said becauSe tHe FAct is thAt ThE PrioriTies FoR actioN have pARticULArly to be supporteD at thIS Time.
WE WelCome iN pArticulAR the Five
 the labelling of products  with envi ronme nta l a nd  ene rgyinformation, a n d to  establish consumer le gisla ti o n in al l Mem ber Sta t es . Bas ic al lyon e  c an di vid e thoug hts abouta E ur opean consum e rpolicy int o t wo different  ap proach es . O n e can  ei ther,  as Mr Whiteh ead has d on e , argu e  for th e se ttin g up of Europeanc on s umer informati on, wi th ca m p aig nsand inform at ion c e ntres,o r- a ndt his is the ar gument whic h  Imyself  s upp o rt - o ne ca na rgu e that thealre ady estab lished nationa l  consum er org ani sat ions sh ou ldwo r k t o ge the r  fo r an app ro pr iatere-a d j u s tmen t,in c oncre te terms by s tre ngth e nin g BEU C, an d th en  acti ng joi ntlyin  the politicalaren a. I beli eve  w e m us t rec o gnizetha t i t is wo uld bet oodi f f i cu lt and too expensi ve t oproducea comp l et el y  harmoni ze d c onsu m e r pol icya nd  consume r info r ma ti on syst em , beca us e t heneeds aresimply  too var ied.B ut despite thi s  lack of unif o rm i t y, we w ill  of coursevote in f avou r  o f M r  Whit ehead 's re p ort.
It is only a p ro active  cons umer policy w hich can g i v e  the EU' s in t er n al market itslegit imacy ande ffective ness.  That is  why it m u s t begin,  fi rst  an d f o r em ost, with the g over nm ent con fer ence. I t i s t her e t ha t the con sumer po li cy  m us t b e str e ngthened .Itmu stbe cl e ar fro m the  int ro du c tio n to th e  t r e atyth at  the  EU  g ivesduec ons iderati on to con sum e r po li cy , in ju st the same w ay  as it giv es  du e cons i d erationto sustainable developm e nt. The  tr eatymust  brace it sel f fora s e ries o f othe r are as , s o thati t  c anal so becomea cle ar go al  topromote  consumer policy c o nsi derations and  co nsum e r  i nte r es t s.Ar t icl e 129 A is stilllacking anu m be r of point s  of  c larific ation a nd im p rovemen ts. Onlyin this w ay  can c ons umer polic y take t he import a nt po s it ion i t d eserve s. 

G arosc i
Mr P r esi dent,  our w or k in t his H ou se, with in this structure, woul d amou nt to  ve ry little  in d eed  were wenotto place c ons ume rs at  th e  fore fron t  o f a l l ofoura ctivities .  A  po l i cy  on consume r s isnot i n f a ct a s ecto ral issue. A sect o ral issue maybe t h e  cr isi s  inth e engineeringind us t r y, the b an ana marketor other  s i milar  matte rs, bu t the c o n su m er sho uldtak e precede nce  i n  everyob je c tive w e se toursel ves, i n  eve r y  activity and in  ever y direc t ive  we e st ablish. Ever y day, the re are thou sandsof u ndert akings-small,  me di um-sized a n d large -  whic h work,  p rodu ce,  emplo y, c r e ate j obs,  d eve lopment a n d  i n ve st m ent  wit h one  p rime  objectiv e : to wor k t o  satisf ycon s u mers.I nt h at context , w e are g rateful to theC om m issio ner fo r theimporta n t d oc ument s heh a s drafted  and agre e  wi th  wha t the ra pp orte ur  an dMrs Oomen-Ruijt en havesaid bec a u se the  fa c t is that t he  prioritiesfor a ct i on have p art icularl y  to  be  su ppor ted  att his time.
We welcome inpart icula r  th e fiv e
 the_labelling of_products with environmental and_energy information,_and_to establish_consumer_legislation in all_Member States.
Basically one_can divide thoughts about_a European consumer_policy_into two different approaches. One can either, as Mr Whitehead has done, argue for_the_setting up_of_European_consumer information, with campaigns and_information centres, or - and_this is_the argument which I myself support - one_can_argue that the_already established national consumer organisations should work together for_an appropriate re-adjustment, in concrete terms_by strengthening BEUC,_and_then_acting jointly in the_political arena. I believe we must_recognize that it is would be_too difficult and too expensive to produce_a completely harmonized consumer policy and_consumer information system, because the_needs are_simply too varied. But despite_this lack of_uniformity, we_will of course_vote in favour of Mr Whitehead's_report.
It is only_a proactive consumer policy which can_give_the EU's internal_market_its_legitimacy and_effectiveness. That is_why_it must_begin,_first and foremost, with the government_conference._It is there that the consumer policy_must be strengthened. It_must_be clear from the_introduction to the treaty that_the EU gives due consideration to_consumer policy,_in just_the same way as it gives due consideration to sustainable development._The treaty must brace itself for_a series of other_areas, so_that_it can also_become_a clear_goal to promote consumer policy considerations and_consumer interests._Article 129 A is still lacking_a number of points_of_clarification and improvements. Only in this_way can consumer policy take the_important position it deserves.

Garosci
Mr President,_our_work_in this House, within this_structure, would amount to very little_indeed were we_not to place consumers at the forefront_of_all of our activities. A policy_on_consumers is not in fact a_sectoral_issue._A sectoral issue may be_the crisis in the engineering industry,_the banana market or other similar matters, but the_consumer should take_precedence in every objective we_set_ourselves,_in every activity and in every directive we establish.
Every day,_there are_thousands of undertakings_- small, medium-sized and large - which work, produce, employ,_create jobs, development and investment with one_prime objective: to work to satisfy consumers.
In that context, we are_grateful to the Commissioner for the important document_she has drafted and agree with what_the rapporteur and Mrs_Oomen-Ruijten_have said because the fact is that_the_priorities_for_action have particularly_to be supported_at this time.
We_welcome in_particular the five