Brussels, 10/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - It is the opinion of the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) that the draft constitutional treaty, which was supposed to bring the Union closer to its citizens, does not sufficiently take into account the interests of consumers and that consumers have not to date been given the importance that they deserve in Union priorities. BEUC therefore launches an appeal to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) so that the future Constitution bridges this gap.
Jim Murray, BEUC Director, said in a press release that the Intergovernmental Conference provides an opportunity for the political world to prove to European citizens/consumers, from now on, that the Union is concerned by the interests of ordinary citizens, and not just by the technical complexities and strategies of diplomatic negotiations. The main requests are for:
- consumer welfare to be included in the aims of the Union, and the Constitution must reflect the fact that the large part of the legislation on goods and services intended for consumers is decided in Brussels; - the future Constitution to guarantee that consumer policy is on an equal footing with transport, environmental or agricultural policies - the possibility provided to Member States to introduce less binding measures than those proposed by the EU (Article 153 of Part III of the draft Constitution) is not adequate; - Article II-38, which declares that Union policies will guarantee a high level of consumer protection, to be more detailed when it mentions the fundamental rights of consumers to be taken into consideration in all Union policies; - and for consumer policy when included in the general application clauses (Article II-5) to guarantee effective integration in all Union policies so that the concept becomes a reality.
BEUC restates in this respect its regrets that the European consumer policy had been included in the new Council formation on "Employment, Social Affairs and Health" (decision taken at the European Summit in Seville) which, in his view, only marginalises the concerns of consumers to a greater extent.
Given the different food crises, the foreseen impact of enlargement on the daily life of citizens and the loss of general citizen confidence in the Union and its institutions, a permanent Council devoted to the issues which have a direct impact on the daily life of consumers would be the only adequate configuration, says BEUC.