It may not be the only way to facilitate cross-border business for SMEs in the EU, given the current and possible future European legal forms already available to business in general, and given the proposal envisaged for a Tenth Company Law Directive on cross-border mergers.

The Group will address other company law issues such as the creation and functioning of companies, shareholders' rights; corporate restructuring and the possible need for new corporate legal forms at EU level.

1. This Directive concerns the legal protection of copyright and related rights in the framework of the internal market, with particular emphasis on the information society.

1. This Directive concerns the legal protection of copyright and related rights in the framework of the internal market, with particular emphasis on the information society.

* The legal framework for the information society and e-Europe, Foodstuffs with particular emphasis on food safety legislation, Services in general (as requested by the Lisbon European Council), Financial services (in accordance with the Action Plan and the priorities agreed at the Lisbon European Council), Public procurement, Community patent, Community design, Combating counterfeiting and piracy as well as other intellectual property rights issues, Company law (in particular the European company statute and associated legislative proposa ...[+++]ls), Type approval of vehicles designed for transport of animals, Customs legislation and policy.

They are as follows: under the responsibility of the Internal Market Council for decisions under Belgian presidency - Community trade mark (4 proposals) - European Company Statute - Legal protection of biotechnological inventions - Food irradiation under the reponsibility of the Work and Social Affairs Council - Modification of the regulation and directive on the free movement of workers (blocked for several years; it is not clear whether Belgian presidency will take up this proposal) under the responsibility of the Ecofin Council - 7th Vat directive on second hand goods (for decision under Belgian presidency) - Tax regime for taking into account of losses(for decision under Belgian presidency) - Special VAT scheme for small businesses Agr ...[+++]iculture Council for decisions underBelgian presidency - Plant breeders rights - Harmful organisms (financial liability) The other non-priority White Paper proposals concern: - 2nd modification to safeguard clause (veterinary sector) - 5th company law directive on limited company liability - 10th company law directive on cross border merger - 13th company law directive (take-over bids) - the proposal is being revised by the Commission and may be discussed agai under Belgian presidency - Tax regime for carry-over of losses The Parliament has given its first reading or opinion on all the remaining White Paper proposals, except on the 10th company law proposal which is blocked pending an agreement on the European Company Statute.