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Post an EU jobAn ambitious EU consumer strategy aims by 2013 to ensure that all consumers have an equally high level of confidence in products, technologies and selling methods in retail outlets across the Union.
According to the Commission, the internal market remains fragmented with 27 national mini-markets, "depriving consumers of lower prices, better choice and the European economy of an additional source of growth" (according to the Commission, consumer spending represents 58% of the EU's GDP).
The Commission has highlighted the need to boost consumer confidence, particularly in 'e-shopping', which represents huge growth potential as, in 2006, only 6% of Europeans made a cross-border e-commerce purchase.
An analysis
of the main outcomes of the Consumer policy strategy 2002-2006
was recently published and argues that the EU strategy has in particular encouraged new member states to put a consumer policy strategy in place.
The Consumer programme 2007-2013
was adopted in December 2006 and has a total financing of €156.8 million over the seven-year-period.
The Commission on 13 March 2007 adopted a new EU Consumer policy strategy 2007-2013
, the aim of which is to boost consumer confidence in the single market "to help the EU rise to the twin challenges of growth and jobs and reconnecting with its citizens".
The main objective of the new strategy, in addition to consumer protection, is through increased competition, to bring EU consumers increased benefits in terms of price, choice, quality, diversity, affordability and safety of products.
"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," said Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, who presented the strategy.
It sets out a number of legislative and non-legislative initiatives to boost the retail side of the single market and announces, for example, a comprehensive overhaul of cross border shopping rights, an in-depth assessment of how best to strengthen consumer collective redress and a pledge to open the market for better cross border deals for consumer credit.
The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) welcomes the new strategy "in which consumers are rightly recognised as drivers of the economy, who need to be empowered and protected. It is the first strategy prepared by the first Commissioner exclusively in charge of consumer policy; its potential is important."
BEUC in particular welcomes the increased integration of consumer policy into other policies, better monitoring of markets, work on collective redress, better regulation for consumer protection and strengthening of independent consumer organisations.
presented by the Commission in February 2007.
(13 March 2007) [FR]
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(13 March 2007) [FR]
(13 March 2007)
(13 March 2007) 
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