Where the choice of the provider of a service listed in paragraph 2 is not freely left to the beneficiary of the service, and unless there is only one possible provider due to the nature of the service or the legal basis for the provision of that service, such provider must be chosen and remunerated according to market principles, in a non-discriminatory way, where necessary using tendering procedures which are in accordance with Community law, and in any event using a degree of advertising sufficient to enable the services market to be opened up to competition and the impartiality of procurement rules to be reviewed.

Provision should be made for a review of the provisions in Directive 98/70/EC in order to take account of new Community air quality legislation and related environmental objectives, such as the need to encourage alternative fuels, including biofuels, the development of new pollution abatement technologies and the impact of metallic additives and other relevant issues on their performance and to confirm, or otherwise, the date for full introduction of diesel fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg in order to ensure that there is no overall increase in emissions of greenhouse gases.

Since the Member States have an enhanced role in respect of the development of visa policy, reflecting the sensitivity of this area, in particular involving political relations with third countries, the Council reserves the right, during the transitional period of five years referred to in Article 67(1) of the Treaty, to adopt, amend and update the detailed provisions and practical procedures referred to above by unanimity, pending a review by the Council of the conditions under which such implementing powers would be conferred on the Commission after the end of that transitional period.

Since the Member States have an enhanced role in respect of the development of border policy, reflecting the sensitivity of this area, in particular involving political relations with third countries, the Council reserves the right, during the transitional period of five years referred to in Article 67(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to adopt, amend and update the detailed provisions and practical procedures referred to above by unanimity, pending a review by the Council of the conditions under which such implementing powers would be conferred on the Commission after the end of this transitional period.

Ministers decide that in conformity with paragraph 1 of Article 13 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade in Annex 1A of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade established thereunder shall, without prejudice to provisions on consultation and dispute settlement, at least once a year review the publication provided by the ISO/IEC Information Centre on information received according to the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards in Annex 3 of the Agreement, for the purpose of affording Members opportunity of discussing any matters relating to the operation of that Code.

Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market(10) lays down provisions for harmonising the authorisation of biocides at Community level and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000 of 7 September 2000 on the first phase of the programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on biocidal products(11) requires wood preservatives to be evaluated as a priority in the review programme established under Directive 98/8/EC. Arsenic has been identified and notified as an active substance within the time limit set out in Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000.