Brussels, 1 September 2008 - Eucomed takes cognizance of and welcomes the public consultation on "Late payment in commercial transactions: still a problem in the EU?". The association appreciates that the consultation document recognizes that late payments by businesses or public authorities have a detrimental effect on enterprises.
In 2000, the EU adopted Directive 2000/35/EC to protect companies from being paid after an agreed deadline for payment has expired. There is however little evidence that this Directive had any material effect on the payment on the performance of public authorities within the EU. As a consequence, late payments still remain a widespread problem.
In its response to the consultation, Eucomed suggested that:
After all submissions to the consultation have been entered, the Commission will propose new regulations to better curtail late payment. These rules will undergo an impact assessment and form the basis of a new policy upon which will be decided in the first quarter of 2009.
Mark Grossien
Director Communications and External Affairs
mark.grossien(at)eucomed(dot)be
+32 (0)2.775.92.24
