THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [OJ C 227 E, 24.9.2002, p. 336.],
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee [OJ C 85, 8.4.2003, p. 140.],
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty [Opinion of the European Parliament of 14 January 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal), and Council Decision of 6 May 2003.],
Whereas:
(1) The Lisbon European Council of 23-24 March 2000 emphasised the need to accelerate completion of the internal market for financial services, set the deadline of 2005 for implementation of the Commission's Financial Services Action Plan and urged that steps be taken to enhance the comparability of financial statements prepared by Community companies whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market
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