Brussels, 28/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - The members of the committee on the internal market and consumer protection of the European market hit it off extremely well with Ms Meglena Kuneva, the Bulgarian Commissioner designate to take over the "Consumer Protection" portfolio within the Commission, a sphere of competence currently looked after by the Cypriot Markos Kyprianou.
The hearing attended by the candidate designate on 27 November was a profession of faith in the EU, in the need to bring the citizen closer to its institutions, and in the opportunities offered, to this end, by a Community policy based on none other than the citizen. The responses to the many questions put to her by the MEPs showed great enthusiasm and a profound knowledge of these dossiers, but some would like to know more about how they are to be translated into reality before they are totally convinced.
In her introduction in English, Ms Kuneva spoke of the "honour and privilege" she felt at being offered the field of competence "which is at the heart of the everyday life of each and every European citizen".
"I want to put consumer policy at the heart of EU policy, and for the citizens to know that in me, they have a defender of the protection of their health, their safety, their economic interests (...). The European project is not an isolated project conceived in autarchy, but a common action, a commitment which should lead to the involvement of the citizen", declared the Commissioner designate. She feels that the portfolio she is to take on is an opportunity to prove it, in the interests of the consumers, and of the EU as a whole. "If the citizens feel that the EU is working for their interests, we will reap the economic and political benefits of this", she said.
Winning the trust of the consumer in the internal market is her priority. The need for better regulation and the Lisbon strategy will be successful only if economic circles enjoy the trust of the consumers in order actively to exploit the opportunities offered by the market.
In order to achieve this, her actions will be steered by a few broad principles: better communication, ongoing dialogue with all interested parties, particularly consumer organisations, and the European Parliament, together with increased attention to the space reserved for consumers within the media.
Speaking of the areas of her previous experience which constitute the assets she will bring with her to the role she hopes to take on, Ms Kuneva cited "my experience of the duty to be accountable", as she has twice been elected to the Bulgarian National Assembly, her experience acquired in "two successive cabinets preparing for Bulgarian accession to the EU", and her talents as a negotiator, leading a team which "made a success of accession".
Substantially, Ms Kuneva intends to work on integrating the consumer protection policy into all pertinent policy areas, not to give in to pressure, to make a maximum level of harmonisation of national legislations the preferential "philosophy" (as was the case in the directive on unfair commercial practices), by acting quickly to identify all fields in which it may be possible and desirable to apply it, to conclude the revision of the legislative framework for consumer protection, to improve the effective implementation of the rules in place (without hesitating to use infringement proceedings), to consolidate and continue progress already made in the observance of provisions on product safety, to reinforce the role of consumer organisations and to develop a culture of consumer protection in the new Member States. The limited budget available for consumer protection has at least the advantage that it will help to tighten up actions on duly identified priorities, said Ms Kuneva, who expects great things of the Commission's Green Paper.
After the hearing, the Socialists said that they were prepared to support the candidacy of the Commissioner designate. "Ms Kuneva's personal commitment in favour of European construction greatly impressed us. We are particularly pleased at her avowed wish to increase the visibility of EU consumer policy", said Mr Swoboda and Mr Wiersma, two Social Democrat chefs de file. "We hope that the approach favoured by the candidate of greater harmonisation guaranteeing a high level of consumer protection in each Member State will be translated into more ambitious concrete measures than those outlined by the Commission's programme for 2007", added Evelyne Gebhardt, spokesperson of the Socialist group on the internal market and consumer protection.
Also positive, the Christian Democrats were slightly more critical in their appreciation. "The Commissioner candidate gave the image of competence and expertise, but she has still to specify and go into greater detail on her political objectives and their concrete translation", said Andreas Schwab, referring in particular to the "need for a clearer delimitation of the scope of application of article 95 ("Internal Market"), as the basis for legislation in the field of consumer protection", particularly for the directive on tobacco products. (an)