Machine tools (including presses) for working metal by forging, hammering or die-stamping; machine tools (including presses) for working metal by bending, folding, straightening, flattening, shearing, punching or notching; presses for working metal or metal carbides, not specified above

Mr. Speaker, I hold in my hands a press release from the International Union of Operating Engineers that expresses its objection to this NDP motion.

63. Supports the Commission's efforts to facilitate communication between traders and Member States; proposes, however, further improvements: in particular urges the Commission to publish all the relevant information and documentation on the meetings with national experts as soon as they are available in order to provide direct access to overviews, for trade representatives and any citizens concerned by developments in the area of customs, of the discussions carried out at those meetings; is convinced that this would, in particular, benefit SMEs, ensure transparency and raise public awareness of customs-related issues;

63. Supports the Commission’s efforts to facilitate communication between traders and Member States; proposes, however, further improvements: in particular urges the Commission to publish all the relevant information and documentation on the meetings with national experts as soon as they are available in order to provide direct access to overviews, for trade representatives and any citizens concerned by developments in the area of customs, of the discussions carried out at those meetings; is convinced that this would, in particular, benefit SMEs, ensure transparency and raise public awareness of customs-related issues;

The example of the agreement between the three main French mobile telephony operators (including the historic operator, France Telecom, and its subsidiary, Orange), a secret agreement which was only revealed by the press in 2005, shows that it is not necessarily wise to entrust this kind of supervision to national authorities.

The study has highlighted the emergence and/or consolidation of a number of trends such as the continuous growth of multi-channel and/or digital platforms, the maintenance of traditional audience share by Public Service and commercial free-to-air stations, the decreasing financial strength and progressive consolidation of all operators, the increase in the importance of subscription revenues, the creation of large integrated and international groups, some of which originate from operators active on other markets: press, consumer electronics, civil engineering and construction.