In a joint statement published on 18 June, seven European industry associations warned the EU27 and the Commission that: “A €2 handling fee will not be enough to protect consumers, nor protect EU business from unfair competition”, they say.
“The real solution lies in closing legal loopholes that currently allow online platforms to act as facilitators in the sale of unsafe goods (...) without accountability” and to strengthen the application of European rules, write the associations, for whom the €2 is superficial since “crucial time is lost, as 12 million parcels are imported in the EU each day without proper controls”.
“There is a serious risk that this tool will be used as a means to postpone the much-needed measures to ensure that online marketplaces are held accountable”, warn the signatories.
European ministers came out in favour of introducing these charges at the Ecofin Council in Luxembourg on Friday 20 June (see EUROPE 13664/15).
To see the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/hie (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)