Brussels, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Commission feels that, in order to properly implement the new strategy it defined in May 2002 to guide Union consumer policy until 2006, the financing rules for this policy, presently five yearly, must be modified. It also wants to present a proposal aiming to amend a Parliament and Council decision (decision 283/1999/EC), which established the present financial framework. Through this initiative, the Commission is proposing to grant, each year, a budgetary allocation of EUR 18 million to finance the actions that will be undertaken on behalf of consumers. This financing will cover both the development of consumer policy and the verification of this Community policy's implementation (functioning of the early warning system for food safety, actions co-financed by the Commission and the Member States such as the network of European consumer centres or the network for amicable dispute settlement over consumer litigation, donations to the activities of European consumer protection organisations and the financing of projects).
In the absence of a legal basis for the financing of a five-year strategy (the previous one covered the period 1999-2001) the Commission was unable, until now, to present a figured proposal. This has now been done. It is now for the Parliament and Council to decide.
The Community consumer protection policy 2002-2006 follows three objectives: ensure a high common level of consumer protection, guarantee the effective enforcement of rules for their protection and ensure the participation of consumer associations in Community policies. The long-term aim is to integrate consumer concerns in all the EU sectoral policies, which have an effect on consumers. This strategy does not concern food safety policy, which is covered by specific separate legislation.