Brussels, 31/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - During its plenary session of 24 and 25 January, the European Economic and Social Committee analysed the impact that electronic commerce would have on the life of citizens, whether they be consumers, producers or distributors for this kind of communications. Harald Glatz (Various Interest, Austria) presented an own-initiative opinion on the effects of e-commerce on the single market, and Göran Lagerholm (Employers, Sweden) presented four opinions on access to networks, the processing of personal data, authorisations and a common regulatory framework.
Adopting the opinion on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities" on which Göran Lagerholm insists in particular), the Committee notes that the proposal for a directive aims to harmonise the way in which Member States manage access to electronic communications networks and to their interconnection. Regulatory intervention is only justified when the market does not provide effective and healthy competition, explains the Committee.
With the adoption of its own initiative opinion entitled "the effects of e-commerce on the single market", the Committee insists on the protection that consumers should be given. Consumers often lack confidence in such commerce mainly because of the insufficient protection of personal data. The Committee therefore shows some concern regarding electronic commerce (via Internet). The opinion draws attention to the shortcomings in the conditions provided by sellers, and stresses the importance of creating a European legal framework for commerce, but also for that which is not covered by the directive on electronic commerce. The Committee calls for the setting in place of support and incentive strategies in favour of new technological means, and for possibilities to be envisaged so that consumers may settle eventual disputes before taking the matter before the courts. The Committee finally calls on the Commission to grant top priority to security for the protection of personal data and payment means as, it concludes, it is essential to guarantee that consumers can make safe transactions.