Il semble clair que la directive existante, qui tentait de réguler cette matière, avait un effet limité, et la proposition que nous analysons pour l’instant marque un pas important vers le respect des échéances de paiement, non seulement dans les relations entre les entreprises et les organismes publics, mais également - et il s’agit d’un point crucial - dans les relations que les entreprises entretiennent entre elles.
It seems clear that the existing directive, which attempted to regulate this matter, had a limited effect, and the proposal that we are analysing now represents an important step in meeting the deadlines for payment, not only in relations between the companies and public bodies, but also – and this is crucial – in the relationships that companies establish with one another.