Commerce: late payment in commercial transactions

The Commission accepts most of the European Parliament's amendments to the Common Position. There are two which the Commission does not accept. -the new recital on perishable foodstuffs would introduce a sectoral approach which should be avoided. -the duration of recovery procedures cannot be reduced to 60 days from 90 days. Whilst it is true that the Commission originally proposed 60 days, it should be remembered that it excluded the period needed by the debtor for his defence. This period is now included in the 90 day period. A reduction to 60 days seems overly ambitious, but the Commission could accept a compromise figure somewhere in between.�