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BackA positive development is on the horizon with regard to the Directive proposal of the Commission on EU Consumer Rights: in a debate in the European Parliament, Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is now in charge of this dossier, confirmed that the Directive proposal on Consumer Rights would worsen the situation in some Member States. The consequence: she is moving away from planned full harmonisation, where only EU law would have applied, but not national regulations, which were better. A first partial success for the AK Europa, which had repeatedly pointed towards the feared deterioration concerning the rights of Austrian consumers.
Further Information:
A speech on the subject by Reding
According to Commissioner Reding, a full harmonisation should only take place in those areas, which were actually suited for it. For example, this could concern electronic sales and eCommerce. All other consumer transactions should continue to be subject to the law of the respective Member State. In contrast to her predecessor, Reding was prepared take improvement proposals into account.
In spite of this, the Commissioner does not want to withdraw the Directive proposal, as suggested by the German MEP Evelyne Gebhardt of the Socialists. Both Council and European Parliament had already invested too much time and effort into this document. She would trust both institutions to improve the proposal accordingly.
In spite of the concessions made by the Commissioner, the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC und AK EUROPA, the Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour in Brussels will continue to inform the EU decision makers to prevent the situation deteriorating for consumers.
In spite of this, the Commissioner does not want to withdraw the Directive proposal, as suggested by the German MEP Evelyne Gebhardt of the Socialists. Both Council and European Parliament had already invested too much time and effort into this document. She would trust both institutions to improve the proposal accordingly.
In spite of the concessions made by the Commissioner, the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC und AK EUROPA, the Office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour in Brussels will continue to inform the EU decision makers to prevent the situation deteriorating for consumers.
Further Information:
A speech on the subject by Reding