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BackIf the European Commission had its way, a new Directive on Consumer Rights would be introduced, which would put the high consumer protection standards of many Member States at risk. Both the Council and the European Parliament have significantly toned down this proposal in their current negotiations. However, this Thursday, the MEPs have voted on it in the plenum – with a surprising referral of the proposal back to the Committee.
With regard to the vote in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, AK EUROPA already reported in detail about the results – also see the link Voting result at Committee level to the article. Although many deteriorations for the consumer from the Commissions’ text were deleted, unfortunately in particular the clauses in respect of doorstep selling and those included in the General Terms and Conditions, mean that areas remain both for the consumer and for business, which reduce the high consumer protection standards in Austria.
During the negotiations prior to the plenary vote, all political groups in the European Parliament agreed on common amendment applications, which should improve individual regulations on doorstep selling and distance selling, thereby strengthening consumer protection.
Confusing and probably unique is the approach with regard to contract clauses. After Socialdemocrats and Greens had rejected the relevant provisions in the relevant legal committee, they now agreed to them in a block vote. However, it is agreed to refer the proposal back to the Committee, which enables renegotiations, in particular concerning this controversial chapter.
However, this approach leaves some questions open: firstly, it is not clear to which Committee the draft Directive will be referred back to (the Legal Committee would be responsible for the chapter on contract clauses; however, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee would be in charge of dealing with the subject). Secondly, the result of the post negotiations is an unknown factor: what happens if the MEPs cannot come to an agreement? In this case, the text voted on in the plenum, which was unanimously accepted, but which several political groups did not want to see in the Directive, could be retained as Parliament position. However, one thing is for sure: the negotiations on the Directive on Consumer Rights remains exciting, an end of the debate is not yet on the horizon.
During the negotiations prior to the plenary vote, all political groups in the European Parliament agreed on common amendment applications, which should improve individual regulations on doorstep selling and distance selling, thereby strengthening consumer protection.
Confusing and probably unique is the approach with regard to contract clauses. After Socialdemocrats and Greens had rejected the relevant provisions in the relevant legal committee, they now agreed to them in a block vote. However, it is agreed to refer the proposal back to the Committee, which enables renegotiations, in particular concerning this controversial chapter.
However, this approach leaves some questions open: firstly, it is not clear to which Committee the draft Directive will be referred back to (the Legal Committee would be responsible for the chapter on contract clauses; however, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee would be in charge of dealing with the subject). Secondly, the result of the post negotiations is an unknown factor: what happens if the MEPs cannot come to an agreement? In this case, the text voted on in the plenum, which was unanimously accepted, but which several political groups did not want to see in the Directive, could be retained as Parliament position. However, one thing is for sure: the negotiations on the Directive on Consumer Rights remains exciting, an end of the debate is not yet on the horizon.