About: consumer policy
Google, Facebook and Twitter face fines as EU grows ‘impatient’ with lax consumer rules
Google, Facebook and Twitter could face fines if they do not change their user conditions to meet the European Commission's demands.
Consumers lukewarm on cross-border finance, insurance
SPECIAL REPORT / A key problem facing policymakers and industry analysts looking to the provision of cross-border services in finance is the level of consumer demand.
SMEs balk at new Consumer Rights Directive
Consumer groups are broadly satisfied with new consumer rights legislation in Europe, but SMEs fear the law will increase administrative burdens on small traders. Governments have two years to implement the EU's new Consumer Rights Directive after years of negotiations concluded with its passing into law last week by the European Parliament.
Parliament set to pass new consumer rights bill into law
Consumers and businesses alike should reap the benefits of new consumer rights legislation in Europe, with years of negotiations set to conclude with the approval by the European Parliament on Thursday (23 June) of the EU's Consumer Rights Directive.
Brussels secures consumer rights breakthrough
Representatives of all three EU institutions have reached a provisional agreement on the bloc's Consumer Rights Directive after hours of negotiations, paving the way for the draft legislation to be voted into law later this month.
Parliament battles over consumer rights
An updated version of the EU's Consumer Rights Directive was approved by the European Parliament's internal market committee yesterday (1 February). But socialist MEPs rejected the text and accused their centre-right colleagues of "selling off" the rights of European consumers, suggesting that further battles lie ahead before the legislation becomes law.
Online sales divides MEPs ahead of consumer rights vote
Consumer groups have warned of missed opportunities in the EU's draft Consumer Rights Directive ahead of a crucial vote on the legislation in the European Parliament next week (1 February), which sees MEPs split over its direction.
EU mulls out-of-court consumer dispute system
The European Commission is considering introducing an EU-wide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system to prevent consumers from having to go to court to settle disputes with companies. But consumer groups warned the move must not detract attention from plans to introduce judicial collective redress.
EU lacks ‘clear vision’ on consumer rights
Brussels lacks a "clear vision or strategy" on consumer rights legislation, Ursula Pachl, deputy director-general of European consumer group BEUC, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Belgian Presidency paves way for consumer rights deal
Ministers meeting at an EU Competitiveness Council last week backed compromise proposals tabled by the Belgian EU Presidency aimed at drawing up "common consumer rights" across the European Union and bringing together existing EU legislation into a single Consumer Rights Directive.
Reding ditches plans for US-style consumer lawsuits
Consumer groups have expressed dismay following Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding's announcement that plans for an EU "collective redress" system are now off the agenda.
E-commerce key to completing internal market, says Kuneva
Barriers to shopping online across borders must be eliminated if the EU's internal market is to be completed, Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said yesterday (5 November), presenting her vision for the future European consumer policy.
EU vows to break down digital borders
The flow of digital content is hampered by national borders and their laws, an EU report published last week shows, leading the European Commission to argue that better rules on consumer access and copyright are needed.
EU guide to inform consumers of digital rights
The European Commission this week launched a new online guide setting out the digital rights that consumers enjoy under EU law.
MEPs urged to sign up to ‘consumer pact’
Getting citizens to vote in the European elections should not be a gruelling task, according to Monique Goyens, director-general of BEUC, the EU consumer organisation. In an interview with EURACTIV, she explained how a proposed "consumer pact" could re-connect voters to Europe.
Commission urged to raise iPod safety standards
Consumer groups have asked the Commission to "revise existing safety standards" to protect users of personal music players (PMPs), such as Apple's iPod, from the risk of hearing damage.
Interview: ‘We’ll name and shame unfair companies’
The European Commission will wrap up its investigations of airline companies in May by ‘naming and shaming’ those who profess unfair commercial practices, Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
EU mulls collective redress for consumers
The European Commission yesterday (27 November) opened a public consultation to consider ways of introducing a collective redress system for victims of illegal commercial practices. But consumer groups accused the EU executive of "lacking ambition".
Business hails new EU consumer rights plan
Business representatives broadly supported a directive on consumer rights unveiled by Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva on Wednesday (8 September), hailing the proposals as 'good news'. But consumer groups are arguing that the text should go further.
EU moves to boost online shopping
The European Commission will present new legislation today (8 October) aimed at making it easier for consumers to shop on the Internet and on the high street alike. But the proposals received a lukewarm reception from consumer organisations for "falling short of expectations".
Parliament backs plans for EU ‘consumer redress’ scheme
The European Parliament yesterday backed Commission plans to provide EU citizens with a collective redress mechanism for the settlement of cross-border consumer complaints in what appears to be a watered-down version of US-style class action lawsuits.
Commission says EU product safety ‘improving’
EU product safety standards are improving, according to Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, who presented the results of a Commission survey yesterday (17 April). But consumer organisations say much more can be done to improve the effectiveness of EU surveillance systems.
Commission seeks to ensure EU single market delivers for consumers
The Commission has announced a number of in-depth sectoral investigations to track "competition killers" depriving consumers of choice and best prices. The first to go under Commission scrutiny are the retail banking and insurance industries.