About: consumer policy Archives

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.

Communication is key if consumers are to become well-informed experts and use their power to make business behave, Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

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.

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 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.

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".

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.

Consumer policy is moving up the European Commission's agenda as the EU becomes increasingly concerned about its popularity level among citizens.

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.

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.

Apple's commercial practice of making its popular iPhone available exclusively to selected mobile operators could be considered unfair and therefore not binding on consumers, said EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.

After almost two decades as the head of BEUC, the European consumers' organisation, Jim Murray identifies emerging issues in consumer policy and shares his unique insight into EU presidencies in an exclusive interview.

A new guidebook targeted at women has been launched to promote consumers' rights under the EU's chemicals regulation REACH.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva has ruled out introducing US-style class action lawsuits across the EU as part of her plan to strengthen consumer rights.

The European Parliament has voted in favour of allowing European consumers to lodge collective court cases against companies, as a means of boosting confidence in cross-border shopping.

The Commission has suggested introducing a European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers. However, the German Centre for European Policy (CEP) states in a July 2007 paper that such a charter would undermine freedom of contract and disturb market development.

An 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.

A wide consultation on EU consumer-protection legislation addresses, among other issues, e-shopping.

The Bulgarian consumer protection commissioner-designate Meglena Kuneva wants to improve communication with consumers to boost their confidence in business and contribute towards reaching the Lisbon goals.

Two EP committees agree with health and consumer stakeholders that the Commission proposal to merge health and consumer protection programmes should be rejected.

Rasmus Kjeldahl has been talking to EURACTIV about
food safety in the enlarged EU and the European Food Safety Agency,
consumer policy in the Barroso Commission, the legislation on
nutritional and health claims, the importance of patient/consumer
information and Corporate Social Responsiblity.

Even though industry has greater powers than ever over
the European Commission, BEUC President Rasmus
Kjeldahl predicts that since consumer policy is an
area that can bring the institutions closer to the citizens it is
likely to stay high on the agenda.

The Commission adopted a communication and a
proposal for regulation on sales promotions as part of its
drive to modernise consumer policy. The regulation intends to
abolish national restrictions on a series of sales promotion
practices and aims to harmonise legislation in the EU on the
protection of consumers, minors and public
health.

On Monday 17 July, Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Byrne presented 4 new regulations on food safety hygiene.