13. Consistency. The criminal-law measures adopted at sectoral level on a Community basis must respect the overall consistency of the Union’s system of criminal law, whether adopted on the basis of the first or the third pillar, to ensure that criminal provisions do not become fragmented and ill-matched. If a sector seems to require specific rules in order to implement the objectives of the EC Treaty, the relationship between these specific rules and the horizontal rules should if necessary be clarified. Care must also be taken to ensure that the Member States or the persons concerned are not required to comply with conflicting obligations. When using its ...[+++] right of initiative, the Commission will take the utmost care to ensure that this consistency is preserved. Parliament and the Council must also take account of this requirement in their own internal organisation.

A case in point is the social development partnerships program, designed to provide grants and contributions to non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded populations, and to address their social development needs (1220) Then, there is the voluntary sector initiative, designed to enhance relations with the voluntary sector.

The three partners the federal government, provincial governments and communities have to be on the same page, and joint initiatives must have the same basis, principles and objectives.

In order to promote the elaboration by interested parties of EU-wide general contract terms, the Commission intends to facilitate the exchange of information on existing and planned initiatives both at a European level and within the Member States.

The Council noted the reactions of the delegations, which generally welcomed the Commission's initiatives and emphasized the need to monitor developments in scientific research so as to ensure better consumer protection and preserve the high standard of the Community's beef and veal market.

In order to encourage action by trade and joint trade organisations, the following Community measures may be taken in respect of the products referred to in Article 1: - measures to improve quality and stimulate demand;