World Consumer Rights Day: strengthening consumer protection in the digital age
Statement by Internal Market Committee Chair to mark World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March.
Statement by Internal Market Committee Chair to mark World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March.
On the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, Internal Market committee Chair Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, DE) issued the following statement:
"The EU single market has highest consumer protection standards in the world. When a European consumer buys a fire alarm in the Czech Republic, Belgium, or Italy, they can trust it will wake them up when smoke is detected. EU rules guarantee not only consumer safety but also fair competition for businesses that adhere to our standards.
“However, if the same product is bought from an online marketplace, the situation may be different. Inferior products sold online that fail to meet EU safety requirements are flooding the market from other countries. This endangers our consumers and puts compliant businesses at a disadvantage.
“Consumer protection needs to keep up with the digital age. We need to enforce the same rights online and offline. EU member states should finally start negotiations with MEPs on the customs reform to tackle the growing tsunami of unchecked parcels arriving daily on our doorsteps. Stronger and better-coordinated market surveillance across Europe is essential. I call on the European Commission to apply the Digital Services Act more consistently to better protect shoppers from illegal and unsafe products.
“Manipulative online practices that pressure consumers into unwanted behaviour or unnecessary purchases must be curbed. A new Digital Fairness Act is urgently needed to address the power imbalance between Big Tech and individuals, to ensure consumers are also safe when shopping online or simply browsing the internet."
Contacts:
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Yasmina YAKIMOVA
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Maris KURME
Press Officer