Distributors play a key role in the understanding of prices, the scales of value, and the acceptance of the euro. Consumers have direct and almost daily contact with retailers and by definition these contacts involve money. It is in the shops that consumers have the opportunity to verify their purchasing power and the functioning and acceptability of means of payment. Point 11 of the 1998 agreement includes an undertaking to meet again at the beginning of 2000 and 2001 to take stock of its application on the basis of reports from the observatories and the available assessments. This declaration summarises the Commission s conclusions with an eye to the meeting in 2000.
Austrian legislation prescribes full dual display, though with numerous exceptions.
A more detailed analysis of the situation is contained in the analytical note prepared by the Commission, which is enclosed. After the long start-up phase, an impetus is now needed to ensure the effective use of these euro codes and logos at local level. These campaigns must focus on encouraging distributors to sign up, but above all they must target consumers, in order to create a demand as from the end of 2000. They should penetrate down to local level so as to reach out also to small retailers and populations outside the large cities. In certain cases dual display is already being introduced spontaneously, but the authorities and associations in these countries should take steps to promote voluntary dual display before this date, mainly among small retailers, to ensure that they too are ready to offer high-quality dual display in good time.