Brussels, 23/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - There is general agreement that it is a key vote for the future of consumer rights that will be held in Brussels on Thursday 24 March. The European Parliament will be voting on its first reading of the draft directive to change consumer rights in the EU to introduce clear rules to ensure a high level of consumer protection and allow the smooth functioning of the single market. A regularly returning issue is the degree of harmonisation included in this draft directive (published in October 2008), which generates fears or hopes depending on which side of the harmonisation fence one sits.
Ahead of the vote, the EP rapporteur on the draft directive, Andreas Schwab (EPP, Germany), expressed confidence that a good balance would be struck and the draft directive would help consumers learn to trust shopping online. He said that consumers have the same right to change their minds in the first fortnight after a sale everywhere in the EU and this is a key aspect of the directive that will increase consumers' trust and generate new opportunities for retailers. He said the new consumer information requirements on price, seller identity and contact details would give consumers greater security and openness. The idea of double clicking by a consumer to accept the obligation to pay a certain price for an online sale will, he said, protect against vague sales conditions and abuse of the internet.
Calling for the minimum level of harmonisation to allow member states to introduce tougher consumer rights than set out in the directive, the Bureau of European Consumer Unions (BEUC) was reassured by the EP's internal market and consumer affairs committee vote (see EUROPE 10310), but it now fears that the European Parliament will opt for a maximum harmonisation option in a number of key areas, like measures to tackle abusive contracts, delivery rules and defective product rules. BusinessEurope, Eurochambres and UEAPME, however, believe that the maximum harmonisation initially suggested by the Commission would be a more effective solution to deal with the current legal uncertainties for cross-border deals between companies and consumers. (A.N./transl.fl)