Consumers: general framework for Community activities 1999-2003

The common position of the Council takes into account the bulk of the amendments adopted by the European Parliament. On the basis of the Commission's amended proposal, the Council adopted a common position providing for a financial framework of ECU 112.5 m, not including the EHLASS programme (the original proposal by the Commission provided for a framework of ECU 114 m, including ECU 7.5 m for EHLASS). The Council: - reworded the introductory sentence to Article 2 (activities to support and supplement the policy conducted by the Member States) to bring it more into line with the Treaty; - altered the description of the beneficiaries to take account of the special position of consumer organisations in some Member States; - took account, as regards the arrangements for implementation, of the differing structures of consumer organisations in the Member States; - introduced an advisory committee to ensure better dialogue between Member States and the Commission with regard to the selection of the projects and activities to receive funding under Article 2(b) and (c). The Commission will also inform the committee about other activities to be funded under the decision. The Commission will ensure that the same information is forwarded to the European Parliament. �