Without prejudice to Article 7(3), three years after the date of entry into force of this Directive, and in any event no later than 31 December 2000, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Directive, including the appropriate information about developments in the sector, particularly concerning economic, social, employment and technological aspects, as well as about quality of service.
The report shall be accompanied where appropriate by proposals to the European Parliament and the Council.
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 12 months after the date of its entry into force. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication.
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
1. This Directive shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or introducing measures which are more liberal than those provided for by this Directive. Such measures must be compatible with the Treaty.
2. Should this Directive lapse, the measures taken by the Member States to implement it may be maintained, to the extent that they are compatible with the Treaty.
The provisions of this Directive, with the exception of Article 26, shall apply until 31 December 2004 unless otherwise decided in accordance with Article 7(3).
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 December 1997.
For the European Parliament
The President
J. M. GIL-ROBLES
For the Council
The President
J.-C. JUNCKER
(1) OJ C 322, 2. 12. 1995, p. 22, and
OJ C 300, 10. 10. 1996, p. 22.
(2) OJ C 174, 17. 6. 1996, p. 41.
(3) OJ C 337, 11. 11. 1996, p. 28.
(4) OJ C 42, 15. 2. 1993, p. 240.
(5) OJ C 48, 16. 2. 1994, p. 3.
(6) Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 May 1996 (OJ C 152, 27. 5. 1996, p. 20), Council Common Position of 29 April 1997 (OJ C 188, 19. 6. 1997, p. 9) and Decision of the European Parliament of 16 September 1997 (OJ C 304, 6. 10. 1997, p. 34); Decision of the European Parliament of 19 November 1997 and Decision of the Council of 1 December 1997.
(7) OJ L 95, 21. 4. 1993, p. 29.
(8) OJ L 109, 26. 4. 1983, p. 8. Directive as last amended by Commission Decision 96/139/EC (OJ L 32, 10. 2. 1996, p. 31).
