The debate for the most part has not been up to level of the Commissioner’s report and Mr Schulz’s invitation to ignore the specific problems or machinations of a particular country – specifically Italy – and to consider the general problem which, I think we all agree, is reception and solidarity for those who enter different countries, for the Roma, who certainly have a specific problem, and at the same time security and legality, because security and legality underpin the reception and solidarity that we must offer.

In my view, small- and medium-sized enterprises do not have a specific problem with this directive, but they do have a general problem with the patent system as such. Much of the criticism in the letters boils down to that.

For the communicable diseases and special health issues listed in this Annex, epidemiological surveillance within the Community network is to be performed by the standardised collection and analysis of data in a way that is to be determined for each communicable disease special health issue when specific dedicated surveillance networks are put in place.

11. Considers it necessary to develop a more flexible approach to the EU decision-making process with regard to the Framework Programme as well as the specific programmes and invites the Commission to consider in particular possibilities for the setting up of "reserves" to be used for specific issues which might occur in the course of the European research programmes; this could lead to successive decisions on specific topics instead of an overall decision on all specific programmes and their content at the beginning of the Framework Programme; the deci ...[+++]sion-making process would be disentangled and could be kept closer to the most recent developments in the respective technology areas, with codecision being retained;

- MEDICINAL PLANT PREPARATIONS "THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas, in its Resolution of 30 November 1995 on the integration of health protection requirements in Community policies, the Council considers that the Community must pay particular attention to the impact on health of action proposed in a number of areas, including free movement of goods; Whereas action to improve understanding of and address the effects on human health of the free movement of goods, in particular the free movement of medicinal products, should form part of the Community's overall strategy for action in the field of public health; Considering the wider use of medicinal plants in medical tr ...[+++]eatment in the European Union; Considering the growing use of medicinal plants in the European Union; Considering the impact of medicinal plant preparations on public health and the recommendations of the World Health Organization; Considering the heterogeneity of the commercial presentation of those preparations on the market; Whereas the safeguarding of public health must be a priority objective at Community level; Whereas it is also necessary to pay appropriate attention to conditions which will ensure that the development of industry and the free movement of such products within the European Union are not hindered; Considering the specific problems involved in checking raw materials and medicinal plant preparations from third countries in order to guarantee their quality; Whereas it is appropriate to take into account the special characteristics of such preparations; Whereas it is necessary to guarantee the protection of consumers' health throughout the whole process of manufacture, distribution and putting up for sale, CALLS ON the Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, to study the situation that exists and, in particular: - whether there are public health concerns over medicinal plant preparations ...

* Recent specific problems The recent specific problems which the Community has faced in its relations with Japan are a perfect illustration of the variety of trade barriers presented by the Japanese market, such as prohibitive taxes and standards specific to the Japanese market.