On Wednesday 17 April, the European Parliament confirmed, by 474 votes to 163 with 14 abstentions, the provisional Interinstitutional Agreement reached with the Council of the EU and the Commission to strengthen, in all relevant legislation, consumer rights, which in several countries have been harmed by unfair or misleading practices by large companies or digital platforms (see EUROPE 12225/10, 12220/10).
Among the main advances expected from this future "omnibus" legislation presented in April 2018 are the following: - sanctions, for companies or digital platforms committing cross-border infringements of EU law, equivalent to at least 4% of the company's annual turnover in the State concerned in the previous year and up to €2 million; - improving consumer transparency in the case of online purchases: platforms will be required to tell consumers whether they are buying from a trader or a private person, to inform them of the protection they are entitled to as a result and to inform them of the main parameters determining the online classification of offers; - more clarity on the practice of dual quality products and its possible prohibition in two years' time.
In the opinion of rapporteur Daniel Dalton (ECR, UK), "this package reboots consumer rights for the internet age". A GUE/NGL MEP, supported by 38 colleagues, tried, in vain, to amend the agreement, considering that the text does not protect against the practice of dual quality products, consumers having to prove that they have been harmed. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)