8. The appointment of a claims representative shall not in itself constitute the opening of a branch within the meaning of Article 1(b) of Directive 92/49/EEC and the claims representative shall not be considered an establishment within the meaning of Article 2(c) of Directive 88/357/EEC or an establishment within the meaning of the Brussels Convention of 27 September 1968 on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters(12).

(21) In the interest of such injured parties, Member States should set up information centres to ensure that such information is made available promptly; those information centres should also make available to injured parties information concerning claims representatives; it is necessary that such centres should cooperate with each other and respond rapidly to requests for information about claims representatives made by centres in other Member States; it seems appropriate that such centres should collect information about the actual termination date of the insurance cover but not about the expiry of the original validity of the polic ...[+++]y if the duration of the contract is extended owing to non-cancellation.

Establishment of a compensation body in each Member States charged with settling visitor's claims in cases where there is no claims representative or where the insurer is too slow in dealing with the file.

the Directive would cover cases where compensation is sought in connection with accidents caused by vehicles registered and insured outside the victim's home Member State; victims of such accidents would have a right of direct action, i.e. the right to make a direct claim for compensation to the third-party-liability insurer of the person responsible for the accident; each insurer providing cover for motor-vehicle third-party liability would have to appoint a claims representative in each Member State in which the insurer is not e ...[+++]stablished; if this condition were not met, authorisation to operate in this class of insurance would not be granted by the home Member State, in accordance with the rules laid down in the third non-life insurance Directive (Directive 92/49/EEC); each Member State would have to establish a penalty system so as to ensure that the compensation procedure is carried out rapidly; each Member State would have to set up an information centre responsible for dealing with questions relating to identification of the insurer of the vehicle involved in the accident and, more generally, any question concerning motor vehicle insurance; each Member State would have to set up a compensation body for "visiting motorists" who are victims of car accidents.

In order to protect injured parties, it is also required to appoint in the country concerned a representative responsible for settling claims.

The Commission has adopted two measures to assist the families of those suffering from the recent cold spell in Europe: 1) 250.000 ECU will be placed at the disposal of voluntary organisations for the provision of essentials (coal, blankets, etc.) and to assist elderly persons and the homeless; 2) also, the facilities now available in Community regulations fr access to the Community's surplus agricultural and fishery products will be broadened on the basis of the princple of free distribution; the cos of these schemes will be defrayed entirely by the EAGGF Guarantee Section; the necessary decisions will be proposed by the Commission to the next Council of Ministers of Agricu ...[+++]lture.