Brussels, 13/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission presented its new consumer protection strategy for the period 2007-2013, a strategy that today consists of around 20 initiatives - both legislative and non-legislative - aimed at strengthening retail trade within the internal market. The Commission, however, predicts further moves forward over the coming months with a comprehensive overhaul of cross-border shopping rights; an in-depth assessment of how best to strengthen consumer collective redress; new proposals to strengthen the Timeshare Directive; and a pledge to open the market for better cross border deals for credit (Consumer Credit Directive). “With this strategy, we aim to awake a sleeping giant, the retail side of the Single Market. The new tools are there for a dramatic evolution in the cross-border market, but consumer behaviour is lagging behind. I want to build trust in the market and give people more choice and value for money. I want a citizen in Birmingham to feel as comfortable shopping for a digital camera from a website in Berlin or Budapest as they would in their high street”, said Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.
Consumer spending represents 58% of EU GDP. Statistics show that businesses and consumers are still not using the potential offered by the internal market, particularly the new possibilities in e-shopping. The internal market could be the largest retail market in the world. It remains fragmented with 27 national mini-markets, depriving consumers of lower prices, better choice, and the European economy from an additional source of growth. To remedy this, the Commission plans to deploy a strategy based on “five pillars”.
Updating the legislative framework. EU law applicable to cross-border shopping rights is, as the Commission acknowledges, incomplete, out of date and ill-adapted to the digital revolution. The current legal framework for consumer protection will therefore be overhauled and streamlined. Priority will go to review of 8 core consumer directives, ranging from consumer guarantees to delivery. The other priority areas of action include: - the Timeshare Directive; - a new directive on consumer credit; - a report on the operation of distance marketing of consumer financial services; - and a report on the operation of the general product safety directive.
Strong systems for redress and enforcement. The Commission takes the view that consumers will not enjoy the benefits of the Single Market unless there are strong and effective systems in place to resolve problems with goods and services when things go wrong. The Commission will therefore take action to: - reinforce monitoring of Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) schemes; - consider action on collective redress mechanisms for consumers for infringements of consumer protection rules and breaches of the EC anti-trust rules; - report on the Injunctions Directive (2007 followed by public consultation on its impact); - and implement the new Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation to tackle cross-border scams and breaches of consumer protection rules.
Safe markets. The Commission underlines that the number one consumer concern is to have safe products. To achieve this, it provides the following priority actions: - reinforcement of the EU's market surveillance and rapid alert system (RAPEX) for notification of dangerous products; - cooperation with US and Chinese authorities will be strengthened; - and data collection on product and service-related accidents and injuries will be a priority, as well as data collection and analysis of chemical risks.
Making a link between consumer policies and other EU policies. The Commission considers that consumer interests must be taken more into account when defining other Community policies. With this in mind, it evokes: - the Commission's White Paper on Mortgage Credit; - services of general interest: the Commission will ensure that, where appropriate, universal service at EU and member state level is safeguarded; - indicators and statistics will be developed in areas including the level of cross-border business-to-consumer (B2C) trade, price convergence/divergence, legal compliance, confidence, consumer complaints, prices, access and consumer satisfaction.
Better information. The Commission acknowledges the fact that consumers need better information. Priority actions in this area include: - cofinancing and coordinating the work of the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net), which advises citizens on their rights as consumers and provides easy access to redress in cross-border cases; - information campaigns in new member states, the development of post-graduate education courses in consumer issues, the publication of the annual School Diary, and the development of adult education modules. (ol)