The negotiations on the Commission Proposal on the EU Sales Law in the European Parliament have been going on for more than a year. This week, the vote was taken in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee of the European Parliament on the proposal, which, from the point of view of the Chamber of Labour and the European Consumers’ organisation BEUC among other, would lead to deteriorating standards in respect of the level of consumer protection. With a pleasing result for consumers.

The discussion in the European Parliament showed two completely different approaches adopted by MEPs: whilst EU representative Hans-Peter Mayer of the European People’s Party broadly welcomed the Commission Proposal, MEP Evelyne Gebhardt of the European Social Democrats criticized the Commission text. The text would bring no added value but only cause confusion and worsen the level of consumer protection. The MEP proposed as an alternative to create a Directive instead of a Regulation, which could lay down minimum standards with regard to the Sales Law. This would also guarantee a continuation of a high level of consumer protection.

A rather unusual coalition of European Social Democrats, Greens, Left, European Conservatives and the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group voted for the line taken by MEP Evelyne Gebhardt. In spite of the support of the European People’s Party and the Liberals, Hans-Peter Mayer was not able to win through.

Right from the start, the Chamber of Labour has come out in favour of maintaining the high level of consumer protection in Austria and discussed the issue with MEPs on more than two dozen occasions. Due to the strong commitment of the Chamber of Labour with regard to the EU Sales Law, the AK was also given the opportunity to present its position at an expert hearing in the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. With success, as the result of the vote has shown.

However, it will remain interesting in spite of the positive result in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee: the Legal Affairs Committee will also vote on the EU Sales Law in autumn. Should the vote bring a different result compared to the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, one might see a very rare deadlock in the European Parliament: in this case it will probably need a crucial vote in the plenum to find out which approach will prevail in the end.

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