The new consumer agenda, due to be presented in the fourth quarter of 2020, will take into account the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and will be based on a comprehensive approach focusing on consumers, the digital transition and the green transition, confirmed the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, on Monday 8 June.
"We are going to talk about the vulnerability of consumers, the application of European law and international cooperation", he told the European Parliament's Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. But, according to him, consumers will also have to be participants in the post-Covid-19 recovery, hence the importance of enforcing their rights (see EUROPE 12467/14).
The Commission's communication will be on the table in November, but now is the time for discussion with stakeholders.
"In a few weeks' time, the consultation on the Communication will be launched. In parallel, we will launch the consultation on the sectoral initiatives to be adopted in 2021", announced Mr Reynders, citing the initiative on the role of consumers in the green transition, the revision of the general product safety directive and the revision of the consumer credit directive.
"These initiatives are a priority and are part of the communication on the consumer agenda. They will take into account the impact of Covid-19 in their respective scope", the Commissioner emphasised.
He said that he had had "many discussions" with the future German EU Council Presidency and with national consumer protection authorities. Mr Reynders reported that there was agreement among Member States on the need for increased cooperation and to be attentive, at national and European level, to consumer vulnerabilities arising from new economic trends and especially from the Covid-19 crisis.
According to him, "we are going to have to better protect consumers who are disproportionately affected, whether because of their socio-economic background or other factors such as over-indebtedness, unfamiliarity with digital tools or their geographical remoteness". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)