However, I believe that within the judicial system we know, given the imperatives of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the rules of natural justice whose application must vary according to circumstances, I truly believe, Mr. Chairman, that the legislative framework we have set up and perfected with the Solicitor General is one that offers the most protection.

However, it is appropriate for that legal framework to apply to cases where the operator acts only as an intermediary who simply arranges for payment to be made to a third-party supplier.

This legal framework applies to infrastructures of pan-European interest.

It deals with globalisation and liberalisation, raising the question of whether a general legislative framework should be established at Community level for services of general interest, and seeks to deal with these issues by asking questions about: the impact of any additional Community initiatives to implement the treaty, in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity; the principles likely to be incorporated in any framework legislation on services of general interest and the actual added value of legislation of that kind; the definition of good governance in the organisation, regulation, funding and evaluation of services of gene ...[+++]ral interest; an examination of any new measure likely to be taken to increase legal certainty and facilitate consistent, harmonious coordination between the objective of safeguarding high-quality services of general interest and the rigorous application of the competition and internal market rules.

full and effective implementation of the Directives in all Member States and the correct application of the Community rules are essential for the proper functioning of the public procurement markets; and that the processes of transposition and application would be aided by better cooperation between Member States and the Commission; access to rapid and effective remedies in cases of non-compliance is important in ensuring effective application of the Directives; that full use should be made of all the provisions in Directives 89/6 ...[+++]65/EEC and 92/13/EEC; and that the Commission should adopt a pro-active approach focusing on serious infringements and those which result from systematic problems; clarification of the legal framework is essential, taking account of the Commission's Communication, so that Member States, contracting entities, suppliers, contractors and service-providers have a common understanding of the rules and the opportunities they create; that the Commission should prepare interpretative guidance in consultation with Member States; and that where necessary the Commission should develop legislative proposals for clarifying the legal framework; consolidation of the Public Sector Directives at the same time as any further amendments are adopted would be an important aid to such clarification; without prejudice to the essential elements of the acquis communautaire, the legislative framework needs to be simplified and adapted in the light of market developments; in particular, that the coverage of Directive 93/38/EEC needs to be revised in the light of the introduction of effective competition; the Commission's Communication is a suitable basis for continued work on flexible procurement procedures with a view to awarding contracts; electronic public procurement offers opportunities to open markets more widely and to reduce costs and should be encouraged; that the Directives should be amended to remove all unjustified legal barriers to suc ...

Promote the creation of a favourable environment and legal framework for industrial cooperation with third countries by acting with the following ends in view: (a) greater transparency and legal certainty in legislation and administrative procedures, especially with regard to investment and market access; (b) harmonized quality infrastructure and rules and procedures for assessing conformity, taking into account the existing situation at Community and international level; (c) determining of the legal framework and the appropriate conditions for ensuring fair competition, both in external markets and in the Union's internal market; (d) cooperation measures concerning RD, train ...[+++]ing - both for heads of companies and for executives in the public sector - and industrial property; (e) processes of regional integration, on the basis of the experience gained at Community level.