2. Calls on the Commission to work on the expansion of the membership base of the International Rubber Study Group, in particular by engaging with the main rubber producing and consuming countries, to closely monitor the workings of the Group, and to report back to the Parliament on any relevant developments within two years of the date of entry into force of the Group's amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure;

1. Consents to the conclusion of the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group;

– having regard to the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the International Rubber Study Group (13350/2011),

In their reply the Greek authorities submitted a number of reports drawn up by independent experts that have been used to (a) calculate and certify the overall cost of the VRS (KPMG has audited OTE’s 2005 financial results and certified the total cost of the VRS), (b) calculate the cost of permanency and the cost of higher salaries for OTE’s employees by using the appropriate benchmark in Greece (CRA International and the Hay Group undertook the relevant studies), and (c) describe the labour regulatory framework in Greece applicable to private undertakings in general and to OTE in particular (study ...[+++] by Mr Levantis, professor of labour law at the University of Athens).

The principles and guidelines thus cover the collection of advice though ad hoc and permanent expert groups; external consultants (individuals, groups or companies, possibly using study contracts); and instances when these mechanisms are used in conjunction with in-house expertise (residing in Commission departments and in the Joint Research Centre).

The Addendum will be elaborated by inter-disciplinary teams, since case studies and evaluations have clearly demonstrated that continued internal co-ordination is a key to success.