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BackThis week, Meglena Kuneva, EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection, was a guest of the Brussels Think Tank European Policy Centre to announce a new Commission Communication on the enforcement of EU Consumer Law. Talking about the rather unspectacular subject, Kuneva, however, revealed that she is obviously a fan of economic theories from the 18th century: she declared that with regard to consumer protection she would always support the idea of the self-regulation of the market and that she believed, as did Adam Smith more than 200 years before, in the “invisible hand”, which would automatically channel things properly.
Kuneva mentioned that already guilds in the Middle Ages, such as the tapestry makers, ensured through their high quality requirements that only the most talented and skilled workers were able to become Master and that thanks to the guild system only the best products came onto the market.
In addition, the Consumer Commissioner said, the market (as a result of more and more new sales platforms, such as the internet, mobile phone, etc.) would develop so rapidly that legislation was not able to keep up with it. If, however, concrete cases would show that self-regulation was not implemented, one could still intervene in a regulatory manner.
The Commissioner, however, emphasised with regard to the new Commission Communication, that the enforcement of the EU Consumer Law would be very important for the Commission. The Communication shows five priorities:
Further information:
RAPEX
2nd Edition of Consumer Markets Scoreboard
Commission press release on the implementation of EU consumer rights
In addition, the Consumer Commissioner said, the market (as a result of more and more new sales platforms, such as the internet, mobile phone, etc.) would develop so rapidly that legislation was not able to keep up with it. If, however, concrete cases would show that self-regulation was not implemented, one could still intervene in a regulatory manner.
The Commissioner, however, emphasised with regard to the new Commission Communication, that the enforcement of the EU Consumer Law would be very important for the Commission. The Communication shows five priorities:
- The consumer cooperation network must be strengthened as does market monitoring. The Commission had, for example used RAPEX to install a rapid alert system, which would issue an early warning on unsafe products;
- The market monitoring transparency must be strengthened; for example the consumer scoreboard had significantly improved market monitoring;
- Developing uniform interpretations of EU Consumer Rights;
- Strengthening market monitoring, identifying markets, where measurements are necessary.
- Promoting/speeding up international cooperation, for example by agreement with third countries, such as the USA or China.
Further information:
RAPEX
2nd Edition of Consumer Markets Scoreboard
Commission press release on the implementation of EU consumer rights