Brussels, 16/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament and the Council negotiators reached an informal agreement in the evening of Tuesday 15 October on framework of consumer policy for the next seven years (2014-2020). Protecting vulnerable consumers, possibly financing reliable internet price comparison sites and greater support for consumer organisations are the main points of the agreement to the credit of the Parliament. With a €159 million budget, this programme will cover product safety, consumer information and education, application of the law and the means of recourse for consumers.
This programme “ensures proper attention to the safety of products as well as promotes the transparency in the markets. In our society, where the wealth of information available can ultimately overwhelm us, we felt it was essential to provide consumers with the means to better compare not only the price but also the quality of goods and services”, said rapporteur Robert Rochefort (ALDE, France).
This trilogue agreement still has to be formally endorsed by the EU member states and the Parliament. (AN/transl.fl)