Consumers: general framework for Community activities 1999-2003

The European Commission supports the common position of the Council which, overall, agrees with its proposal. The Commission notes that, in the absence of a decision on this proposal by the end of the year, certain appropriations under the 1998 budget will not be committed and financing of the majority of activities in 1999 will need to be suspended due to the lack of a legal basis. Both the European Parliament and the Council have undertaken to speed up the adoption process for this text by the end of 1998. Once the Amsterdam Treaty enters into force, this decision could be adapted in order to take account of the extension of its scope of application to the field of consumers.�