 and has been replaced by a new Director General. This document is not a legislative text, it is not a law with amendments, it is a text of political guidelines, setting priorities. Therefore I should like to ask the Commissioner if the text of political guidelines is bad and cannot be put into practice, what is its use? I think it would be better to withdraw it - and I think that the rapporteur agrees with what I am saying, because I have already had an opportunity to discuss this with him - and present a document which might be more concentrated, with less priorities and which could really be transformed into a genuine action programme. In this case, I promise her that all of us, in all of the political groups, from every part of the spectrum, will be here to support a report which has just four or five priorities for political action to help consumers in the coming years. That is what is needed.
The rapporteur, after all, sets five priorities with which I agree: access to justice, either through courts, through arbitration machinery or through other mechanisms, the protection of the financial interests of consumers, improved information, converting consumer information into consumer power, a food policy and a human and animal health policy which is different to the one pursued so far and a clear and simple definition of what a universal public service is and how it can be applied.
Just two comments to finish up: I would like her to use Article 129A, more often, as this is a weapon which she has at her disposal and which she has not used so far. We think that it could be used more often. The other point is about a policy of granting subsidies to consumer defence organisations. A few years ago the European Parliament - I was one of its authors - tabled a motion increasing the budgetary amounts for consumer protection associations in order to give them more support especially in the countries where they are lacking, such as Ireland and the southern countries of Europe, and also giving support to smaller associations.
On the contrary, the current policy has lent support only to the large European organisations, often forgetting that it is in the countries where consumer organisations are smaller and weaker that they are the more necessary.

Bonino
Mr President, Members of Parliament, I must say that I am rather disconcerted by this debate.
First of all, may I remind you that this plan was presented to Parliament on the 3rd November 1995. You must have examined it in depth, as you presented to me a report on the priorities in February
and has been replaced by a new Director General. This document is not a legislative text, it is not a jurisprudence with amendment, it is a text of political guidelines, setting priority. Therefore I should like to necessitate the Commissioner if the text of political guidelines is bad and cannot be frame into practice, what is its use? I intend it would be better to withdraw it - and I intend that the rapporteur agree with what I am saying, because I have already had an opportunity to discuss this with him - and present a document which might be more hard, with less priorities and which could really be transformed into a actual action programme. In this font, I promise her that all of us, in all of the political group, from every part of the spectrum, will be here to support a report which has just four or five precedence for political action to help consumers in the coming years. That is what is needed. 
 The rapporteur, after all, sets five priorities with which I agree: access to justice, either through courts, through arbitration machinery or through other mechanisms, the protection of the fiscal interest of consumers, better data, convert consumer information into consumer power, a food policy and a human and animal health policy which is unlike to the one pursued therefore far and a clear and simple definition of what a cosmopolitan public service is and how it can be applied. 
 Just two comments to finish up: I would like her to use Article 129A, more often, as this is a weapon which she has at her disposal and which she has not used so far. We remember that it could be used more frequently. The other point is about a policy of granting subsidies to consumer defence constitution. A few years ago the European Parliament - I was one of its authors - tabled a apparent motion increasing the budgetary amounts for consumer protection associations in club to give them more accompaniment especially in the countries where they are miss, such as Ireland and the southern countries of Europe, and also giving documentation to smaller association. 
 On the contrary, the current policy has lent support only to the large European administration, often forget that it is in the countries where consumer organisations are smaller and weaker that they are the more necessary. 

 Bonino 
 Mr President, Members of Parliament, I must say that I am preferably disconcerted by this debate. 
 foremost of all, may I remind you that this plan was presented to Parliament on the 3rd November 1995. You must have examined it in depth, as you presented to me a reputation on the priorities in February
 anf has been replaced by a new Director Ggnwral. Tiis dochment is not a legislative text, it id bot a law with amendments, ig is a teqt of poluticel guidelines, sevfing prljritjcs. Thzrxfore I should kike to asn the Commissimndr if the text of political guidelinef is bac wnd cannot be kut imeo pdactice, what is its use? I think it would ue better to wiyhdraw it - and I think thah thf rapporteur agreed with what I ai saying, becajse I have already had an opportunity to discuss this with him - and kxwsejj a document whicr might be more concantratec, with less prloritmes qnd which could reallb be transformed intj a genuite action programme. Ib thiv cave, I prooist hxr fhat apl kf us, in aml of the pilitical groups, frok qnrry part of fhe spqcerum, will be here to support a report wvicg has just four or five priorities for politlcal actijn to help consumers in the coming years. That is fhat ms netdcq.
Gye rapporteur, after all, sets five priorities wieg ehpch I agree: accesf to justicr, fiyrer through cuurts, cgrkugh arbitration mwchineri or tyrough otrer kechanisms, the protection od the financpal unterests of consulers, improvzd infprmatoon, converting consumer infkrmation inho consumsf power, a food puliby atd a human and animal healeh policy whieh is diwfergnt to ehe one pugsued so far and a clear and dikple definltion of what a universal publir service is sng hmw it cau be aiplied.
Just two somments to fiuish up: N woula like her to use Article 129A, iore often, as jhis is a wea'on which she has at her aisposal and wnich she kcs not uswd so far. We think thxf it could be uwed more often. The otfer pliit is dbout a poliwy ow gfsntine subsidies go cpnsumer defence orgatisafions. A few years sgj the Eutopean Pawliament - I wss one of its authlrs - vabled a moyiog increasing the budgetary amohnts for fonfumer proteceion associationx in order to give them more support es'ecially in the countriws where they are lccling, such ax Irejand and dhe southern countriws of Europe, and slso giving support tk smalner adsociations.
On the contrary, the current policy has lent support only to thw largx Quropean orfanixatiots, pften sorgxtving that it is im the countries where consumer urganisadijns are smaller and weaker tnag they are thg more necessary.

Bonino
Mr Pdesident, Members of Parliament, I must ssy that I am rather discpncerted by tgis debate.
Hirst of all, may I rrmind vou thqt this plak was presentea tp Iarliament on uhe 3xd November 1995. You must have examinwd it un depth, as you prxsented to mc x repkrt on the priorities jn Fshruari
and has been replaced by a new This is not legislative text, it amendments, is a text political guidelines, setting Therefore I should like to ask Commissioner if the text of political guidelines is bad and cannot be put practice, what is its use? I think it would be better to withdraw - I that rapporteur agrees with what I am saying, because I have already had an opportunity to discuss with him - and present a document which be more concentrated, with priorities and which could really transformed a genuine programme. this I promise her all of us, in all of the political groups, from every part of the spectrum, will be to support which has four five for political action consumers in the coming years. That needed. The rapporteur, after all, sets five priorities which I access to justice, either through courts, arbitration machinery or through other mechanisms, the protection the financial interests of consumers, improved information, converting consumer information into consumer power, a food a human and animal policy which is to one so and a and simple definition of what a universal public service is and it can be applied. Just two comments to finish up: like to use Article more often, as this a which she has at and she so We that it could be more often. The other point about a policy of organisations. A few years ago the European Parliament I was one of its authors - a motion increasing the budgetary amounts for consumer protection associations in order give them especially in the countries where they are lacking, as Ireland and the countries of Europe, and also giving support to smaller On contrary, the policy has lent only to the European organisations, often it is the where smaller and weaker that they are more Bonino Mr President, Members of I that I am rather disconcerted by this debate. First of all, may I remind you plan was presented to on 3rd November 1995. You must have examined it in depth, as you me a report February
 and has been replaced by a new DIrector GenEral. THis DocUmEnt iS not A legislative teXT, it iS not a law with amendments, It is a TeXT of pOLiTical GuideliNEs, SETtiNg PrIorItIEs. thereForE I shoulD like to ask The coMmissioner if THe Text of poliTicAl guidelines Is bAd and cAnNot BE put iNto PractIce, whaT Is its uSe? I think iT wOUld be bETter to wITHdRaw iT - and I think that the RApPOrteur agrees wiTh what i aM SaYINg, bEcaUse I have alReAdy haD An opporTUnITY To dIScuss this with Him - and preseNT a dOcumenT wHicH Might bE more CoNCenTrated, with lEss pRiorities And whiCH could rEAlly be tRansfoRmeD inTo a gENuInE acTiON prOGrAmmE. in tHis case, I PrOmIse heR thaT ALL Of us, In aLl of The poLitical groups, FroM eveRY paRt of tHe speCtruM, wIll be Here to SuppoRt A report which has Just Four or fivE prIoRitIeS for pOLiticaL acTioN to help ConsumeRS in ThE COMiNg years. That is what iS nEEDeD.
The rappOrteur, AFtEr ALl, sets fiVe PriOritIES with WhicH i aGree: acceSs to juSTiCe, Either tHrOugh coUrTs, tHroUgh arBItraTion maChinery oR throUGh other mechaniSMs, the protectiON oF THe FInanCiaL interests oF conSUmerS, impROvEd iNFormaTion, cOnVErTIng consumer informatIoN into cOnsumEr power, a food pOlicy and a hUMAN and animAl heALtH Policy which is dIfferEnt to the onE Pursued sO far aNd a clear And simple DEFinition Of wHat A unIveRSAl Public service IS And hOw It can be AppLied.
JusT twO coMmeNts To Finish up: I Would likE hEr To UsE ArTicle 129a, More ofteN, aS thIs Is a WeapoN Which sHe has At heR dIsPOsaL and whiCH sHE Has nOt UsEd so Far. we Think That IT coUld be usEd more oftEn. THE othEr PoInt is abOut a policy of gRaNting subsiDiEs tO consuMER defence Organisations. A few years aGO the EurOpeAn ParLiamEnt - I was onE of Its autHorS - Tabled A motioN incrEaSinG THe budGETaRy aMoUnts for conSUMer ProteCtIon aSsociatIons in order to give tHEm mOre support espEciAlly IN ThE coUNtRIes WhERe tHEY are lacking, such As Ireland aNd THe Southern coUNtrIeS of EuroPe, and alSo givINg suppoRt to smallEr associaTiOns.
ON THe cOntrary, the Current pOlicy has lENt supPOrT only To tHe largE EUroPean oRganisATioNs, oftEn forgEtTing thAt it iS iN the counTries where consumer organIsatioNs are SmaLler and weAkeR ThaT they are tHe moRe necessarY.

BoNinO
Mr PrEsiDEnt, MeMberS Of parLIamenT, I muST say that I AM rAthER DiSconcerted bY THIs dEbate.
firST of all, May I Remind you that this PLan was presenteD to PARLiaMenT On thE 3rD November 1995. You muSt hAvE EXamined iT iN depth, as you PresenteD tO Me a rePort on The priOrities IN feBRuary
 and has been replaced bya new Dire ctorGen era l.  Thi s do cument is nota  leg islative text, it is n ot ala w  wit h  a mendm ents, i t  i s a t ex tofpo l it icalgui delines , settingpri or ities. There f or e I should  li ke to ask th e C ommiss io ner if th e t ext o f poli t ical g uidelines  i s  bad a n d canno t be  put  into practice, w h at is its use? Ithinkit wo u l d b e b etter to w it hdraw it - an d  I t h ink that the rapp orteur agre e s w ith wh at  Ia m sayi ng, b ec a use  I have alr eady  had an o pportu n ity tod iscussthis w ith  hi m -a nd  p res en t  ad oc ume n t w hich mig ht  b e mor e co n c e n trat ed,  wit h les s prioritiesand  whi c h c ouldreall y be  t ransf ormedintoagenuine actionprog ramme. In  th is  ca se , I p r omiseher  th at allof us,i n a ll o f  t he political group s, f ro m everypart o f  t he spectrum ,wil l be h ere t o su p po rt a rep ort wh i ch  h as just  f our or  f ive  pr iorit i es f or pol itical a ction to help consum e rs in the com i ng y ea r s. T hat  is what is  nee d ed.Ther ap por t eur,after  a l l, sets five prioritie swith w hichI agree: acce ss to just i c e , either  thr o ug h  courts, throu gh ar bitrationm achinery  or t hrough o ther mech a n isms, th e p rot ect ion o fthe financial i nter es ts of c ons umers,imp rov edinf or mation, c onvertin gco ns um erinfor m ation in to  co ns ume r pow e r, a f ood p olic yan d  ahuman a n da n imal  h ea lthpol ic y whi ch i s  di fferent  to the o nep ursu ed  s o far a nd a clear an dsimple def in iti on ofw h at a uni versal public service i s  and ho w i t can  beapplied.Jus t twocom m ents t o fini sh up :I w o u ld li k e  h erto  use Artic l e  12 9A, m or e of ten, as  this is a weaponw hic h she has ather  dis p o sa l a n dw hic hs heh a s not used so f ar. We thi nk th at it coul d  be  u sed mor e often . The other p oint is a bout a po li cy o f gra nting subs idies to  consumer defen c eorgan isa tions.  A  fe w yea rs ago the  Euro pean P ar liamen t - I  w as one o f its authors - tableda moti on in cre asing the  bu d get ary amoun ts f or consume r p rot ectio n a s socia tion s  i n o r der t o gi v e them mo r esup p o rt  especially i n  th e cou ntr i es whe re t hey are lacking,s uch as Ireland  and t hesou t hern  c ountries of Eu rop e, a nd alsogi ving suppor t to sma ll e r ass ociati ons.
O n the c o n tr a ry, th e cu rre nt policy  ha sl ent sup po rt only t o th elargeEurope a n or g a nisations, often  forg e t tingt hat  it i sin thec ount ries where  consumer o rganis atio ns ar e small er  and w eak er  that they are the m ore n ecessar y. 

Bo nin o
Mr P resi d e nt, M embe rs  of  Parliame n t ,I  m us t  sa y th at Iam  rat her disco n certed b y t h is deba te .
F i r st ofa ll , may I remi ndyou t h a t this pla n  was pr e sente d to P arliam ent ont he3r d Novem ber 1 995. Youmust have exa mi nedit in de pt h, a syou  p resented to mea report  on thep r ioriti esi n Fe b ruary
 and_has been_replaced by a new_Director General._This_document is_not_a legislative text,_it is not_a law with amendments,_it is a_text_of political guidelines, setting priorities. Therefore I should like to ask the Commissioner if_the_text of_political_guidelines_is bad and cannot be_put into practice, what is_its use?_I think it would be better to withdraw_it_- and I_think that the rapporteur agrees with what I am_saying, because I have already had_an opportunity to_discuss_this_with him - and_present a document which might be_more concentrated, with less priorities and_which could really be transformed into a_genuine action programme. In this case,_I promise her that all_of us,_in all of the political_groups, from every_part of_the spectrum, will_be here to support a report_which has just_four or five priorities for political_action_to help consumers_in_the_coming years._That is what_is_needed.
The rapporteur,_after_all, sets five priorities with which_I_agree: access to justice, either through courts,_through arbitration machinery or_through_other mechanisms, the protection_of the financial interests of_consumers, improved information, converting consumer information_into consumer_power, a_food policy and a human and animal health policy which is_different to the one pursued so_far and a clear_and simple_definition_of what a_universal_public service_is and how it can be applied.
Just_two comments_to finish up: I would like_her to use Article_129A,_more often, as this is a_weapon which she has at her_disposal and which she has_not_used_so far. We think that_it could be used more often._The other point_is about a policy of granting subsidies_to_consumer defence organisations. A few years_ago_the European Parliament - I was_one_of_its authors - tabled a_motion increasing the budgetary amounts for_consumer protection associations in order to give them more_support especially in_the countries where they are_lacking,_such_as Ireland and the southern countries of Europe, and also_giving support_to smaller associations.
On_the contrary, the current policy has lent support only to_the large European organisations, often forgetting that_it is in the countries where consumer organisations are smaller and_weaker that they are the more necessary.

Bonino
Mr President,_Members of Parliament, I must say that_I am rather disconcerted_by_this debate.
First of all, may I remind_you_that_this_plan was presented_to Parliament on_the 3rd November_1995. You_must have examined_it in_depth, as you_presented_to me a report on the priorities in February