Brussels, 07/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation, which had feared the worst on the new draft directive on consumers' rights - that there would be a rounding down of consumers' rights - has welcomed the first reading vote of the European Parliament (EP) (see EUROPE 10307). It feels that, it having almost been declared dead, the directive is now in intensive care at the Parliament. This compliment is worth its weight in gold coming as it does from one of the most fervent supporters of a high level of consumer protection in the EU.
The EP vote saw “moves in the right direction”, says BEUC, delighted that through its amendments, the internal market and consumer protection committee - the lead committee - showed that it had heeded calls by BEUC to prevent maximum harmonisation of all main consumer rights in Europe and to adopt a “mixed approach”.
Among the positive developments on “distance selling” contracts, BEUC mentions: the 14-day withdrawal period for purchases; return costs for goods valued higher than €40 to be borne by trader. It also welcomes the new pre-contract information rules that will become compulsory for purchases both in shops and online, and the new information rules for digital products.
However, it says the vote was of “significant disappointment” in the sensitive area of door-to-door selling as it “will lead to a decrease of consumer protection”. A clear need exists, therefore, for improvement when the whole European Parliament votes at plenary, to give meaningful protection to consumers who buy “off-premises”, for example, by granting the right to receive information on paper, BEUC says.
“We are relieved to see the Parliament begin to steer this directive away from its original destination of simply breaking down barriers for business and more towards securing and improving protections for consumers. Nonetheless, it remains unfortunate that the adopted text would be detrimental for consumers in off-premises contracts and that the Parliament has not taken the opportunity to strengthen protection on frequently encountered issues with legal guarantees”, said BEUC Director General Monique Goyens. She added: “We are pleased to see the MEPs committed to adding value for consumers to this directive, but this crucial legislation has yet to earn its name”. (A.N./transl.rt)