Commission to adopt new Consumer Policy Strategy

On Tuesday 7 May, the Commission will adopt its new five-year consumer policy strategy (2002-2006). Its main objectives are a high common level of consumer protection, effective enforcement of consumer protection rules and the involvement of consumer organisations in EU policies.

Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne commented that this strategy will provide a consistent approach and guidelines for consumer policy over the next five years. “My objective is to enable consumers as well as businesses and particularly small and medium-sized enterprises to carry out transactions with no need to give any thought to real or virtual borders between buyer and seller,” he added. “This implies simpler and more common rules, a similar level of enforcement across the EU, more accessible consumer information and education and effective redress mechanisms.”

The three main objectives are to be reached through a number of different actions:

• “A high common level of consumer protection”:
  This entails the harmonisation of safety of goods and services (framework directive, standards, best practices), but also aspects of consumer economic and legal interests. The Commission will follow up to commercial practices issues addressed by the Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection and on the safety of services.
• “Effective enforcement of consumer protection rules”:
  Consumers should be given in practice the same protection throughout the EU. This entails the development of an administrative co-operation framework between Member States and of redress mechanisms for consumers.
• “Involvement of consumer organisations in EU policies”:
  Consumers and their representatives should have the capacity and resources to promote their interests on similar footing as other stakeholders. The main actions to achieve this will include the review of mechanisms for participation of consumer organisations in EU policy making and the setting up of education and capacity-building projects.

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