Brussels, 10/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - As a prelude to the European consumer day on 15 March, Meglena Kuneva, Commissioner for Consumer Protection, awarded the first European consumer protection prizes in Brussels, on Monday 10 March, to the winners of the national competitions held in all of the member states to inform consumers of their rights and encourage them to take advantage of them.
“'Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights': this is the message I have for Europe's 490 million consumers. It is consumers who drive the market. It is consumers who boost competition. So, do not be afraid to choose, to switch, to question and to seek redress. I am delighted that so much effort is being made in the member states to promote this message”, said Ms Kuneva, stressing that “consumers who know their rights are the key to a healthy and competitive market”.
The overall winner was Finland and its consumer protection agency for “Galactor and the Code-breakers”, an interactive game which teaches young consumers about their rights and responsibilities when making purchases using online and mobile shopping. This awareness campaign, aimed at young adults and their rights and responsibilities as consumers, was so successful that it has since been adopted by other member states. The United Kingdom won the prize for originality with its “Consumer Challenge Quiz”, a game to help young people with learning difficulties to become better informed and more confident consumers.
The prize for the best financial campaign went to Ireland, for its personal finance website. The best campaign aimed at children was won by Hungary, with a nationwide drawing competition for primary schools which used three consumer issues as themes. The judging panel also gave special merit prizes to Norway for its "iTunes" campaign and to Estonia for the "Make Responsible Credit Decisions" campaign, which was run by an independent bank.
The prize-winners were selected by an independent panel of judges, who chose the best campaigns by European consumer centres in each member states on a wide range of subjects - financial services, air passenger rights, loans via text message, online shopping, food information and children as consumers.
Prizes next year will be awarded to individuals who have fought for their consumer rights, explained the commissioner. (A.N.)