Brussels, 11/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - How can cross-border protection best be strengthened in the EU so that consumers can enjoy the same rights everywhere and however they have made their purchases? The European Commission is hoping to gather together as many views as possible, from consumers, consumer-protection organisations and companies, on this issue through the public consultation that it opened on Friday 11 October.
“Improving the effective implementation of consumer rights is one of my priorities … without increasing red tape”, said European Consumer Policy Commissioner Neven Mimica.
Interested parties will have until 31 January 2014 to respond to questions, such as:
What means of investigation and intervention do national enforcement authorities need in order to cooperate better in tackling infringements to consumer laws concerning several countries?
What sanctions are necessary to better deter infringing practices?
How can the enforcers act more efficiently and provide a more robust enforcement response to combat malpractices which occur widely in the EU or which are perpetrated by the same trader operating in a number of member states?
Given current public funding constraints, the Commission also wants to know whether - and how - a possible, more coordinated, EU-level approach could help pool resources and expertise and achieve effective joint enforcement responses to combat infringing practices that harm consumers and businesses in the EU.
The results of the consultation will guide the Commission in its efforts to improve the pan-European network of consumer protection enforcement bodies. It will also help develop better indicators, identify opportunities for data sharing and lead to improved methodologies for enforcement. The EU Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation links national consumer authorities in a pan-European enforcement network. According to the latest consumer market scoreboard, over 50% of consumers say that they are most likely to come across illegal commercial practices on the internet. (AN/transl.fl)