Any seconded military staff member who, in the performance of his duties, is called upon to pronounce on a matter in the handling or outcome of which he has a personal interest such as to impair his independence shall inform the head of the department to which he is assigned.

In any event, even if the most favourable approach for IPC was taken, this would not have altered the findings concerning the existence of dumping.

At the same time, the Commission is faced with a growing number of complaints and cases under competition law on which it must take position.

The position to be taken by the Community within the Cooperation Council and within the Cooperation Committee when the latter is empowered to act by the Cooperation Council shall be laid down by the Council, on a proposal by the Commission, or, where appropriate, by the Commission, each in accordance with the corresponding provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

The Court stated that 'in the case of public undertakings to which Member States grant special or exclusive rights, they are neither to enact nor to maintain in force any measure contrary to the rules contained in the Treaty with regard to competition` and that those rules 'must be read in conjunction with Article 90(2) which provides that undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest are to be subject to the rules on competition in so far as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them.` Questions are therefore frequently put to the Commission on the attitude it intends to take, for purposes of the implementation of the competition rules contained in the Treaty, with regard to the behaviour of postal operators and with regard to State measures relating to public undertakings and undertakings to which the Member States grant special or exclusive rights in the postal sector.

This encompasses the ability to respond rapidly in the event of unforeseen circumstances and to take a more responsible view of potential longer-term impact of science and technology developments.

For such international negotiations, the Commission should inform the European Parliament and the Council whether Community policies are affected, with a view to obtaining endorsement by the Council on the Community policy objectives to be achieved and on the positions to be taken by Member States at international level.

The Commission and the Member State representatives participating in Codex drafting and working groups, without prejudice to the question of the competence, notify the other Member States promptly of draft reports drawn up by the group's rapporteur and coordinate with Member States regarding the position to be taken.

Questions are therefore frequently put to the Commission on the attitude it intends to take, for purposes of the implementation of the competition rules contained in the Treaty, with regard to the behaviour of postal operators and with regard to State measures relating to public undertakings and undertakings to which the Member States grant special or exclusive rights in the postal sector.