31 January – 1 February Economic and Social Committee

Date: 08/02/1996

THE Economic and Social Committee (ESC) voted unanimously to adopt an own- initiative opinion on the free movement of medicines in the EU. The report, drawn up by Italian member Sergio Colombo, called for action in three areas - general, social and industrial policy. The first should provide guidance to national bodies, the second a guarantee of equal availability of medicines to all EU citizens and the third is aimed at ensuring EU pharmaceuticals can compete globally.

THE ESC voted unanimously in favour of an opinion on the European Commission's Green Paper on copyright and related rights in the information society. Members said copyright should be gained in the country of origin, but should also be enforceable in the state where downloading takes place. The holder of intellectual property rights should have full control over importation and distribution. Digitisation should be treated like any other copying method and unlicensed copying for commercial purposes should be banned.

THE Committee called for an amendment to the directive on the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens and ensuring an exposure threshold for benzene. Members urged the Committee to provide a 'guidance note' to help firms and workers understand the application of the revised directive.

BY a majority vote, the ESC adopted an opinion on relations between the Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The EU must improve its commercial image in Asia by opening business centres, and concentrating on issues such as environment, telecommunications, energy and vocational training. The Committee urged the Commission to improve bilateral contacts at the Bangkok EU-Asia summit in March.