Indeed when evaluating the compliance with the Treaty of financial measures favouring an undertaking entrusted with a mission of general interest, the crucial point is to check whether or not such financial measures resultin support which goes beyond the extra cost incurred by that undertaking in fulfilling the mission of general interest.

As in the case of procedures for public procurement contracts, which the Zappala report tackled, and as in the case of a particular sector such as public transport, which the Meijer report dealt with, we are required to adopt a framework for the policy on European competition, to develop a policy on regulated competition, to enable national, regional or local public authorities, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, to determine the missions of general interest services, the management contract that is to be fulfilled by the operators and the funding of these missions.

18. Points out that, pursuant to Article 16 of the EC Treaty, the Community and the Member States have an obligation to define the tasks of services of general economic interest as well as the way they are carried out, and therefore must impose obligations to provide certain services on the service providers, whether public or private, on terms enabling them to carry out their tasks;

The definition of a specific mission of general interest and the attendant service required to fulfil that mission need not imply any specific method of service provision.

These general objectives are being pursued with the aid of the following measures: application of the competition rules with the progressive elimination of unwarranted State monopolies on the grounds of the general economic interest; legal harmonisation and standardisation; guarantee of a universal service for certain services (telecommunications and postal services) and a mission of general interest for others (transport, electricity, gas); an invitation to the Member States to establish regulatory and monitoring authorities in th ...[+++]e liberalised sectors; measures to promote and protect consumer interests (representation, access to information, transparency, freedom to choose, quality, affordable prices, rapid and inexpensive legal procedures and dispute resolution, etc.).

(b) to hold examinations on the principles and practices of life insurance and personal financial planning or on general educational attainments; (c) to grant certificates of proficiency to its members; (d) to authorize the use, by such of its members as it may designate, of the title and description " Chartered Life Underwriter of Canada" ; (e) to represent its members on matters of common interest before government and regulatory bodies and any other organizations or persons; (f) to promote and encourage ethical behaviour by its members; (g) to devote the funds of the Corporation to fulfilling its objects and promoting the welfare ...[+++] of its members in such manner as the Corporation may decide; (h) to provide overall policy direction to the chapters and affiliated bodies of the Corporation; (i) to coordinate relations among the chapters and affiliated bodies of the Corporation; (j) to provide such benefits to its members as are deemed by the board of directors to be in the best interests of the members; (k) to award and administer professional designations; and (l) to do all such other things as are incidental and ancillary to the furtherance of its objects or the exercise of its other powers.