EU seeks e-trade without borders

A major new drive to fundamentally overhaul core EU consumer rules – including guarantees, refunds, cooling off periods - to adapt them to the challenges of a fast changing digital world was launched 8 February 2007 with the adoption of a European Commission Green Paper reviewing the existing rules. Consumer spending (households and non-profile institutions) accounts for a total of 58% of EU GDP. Consumer confidence is a key factor determining how and when consumers spend their money in different sectors of the economy. All the evidence is that consumers are not yet "comfortable" enough in the digital and online world to seize its full potential. Only tiny fraction - 6% of EU consumers - are currently shopping online cross border. With the help of the feedback from the Green Paper, the Commission aims to boost consumer confidence in the EU Single Market, with a single and simple set of rules which empower consumers to know their rights, make sound choices and ensure adequate protection when things go wrong. Clear legal rules will also incentivise operators, particularly SMEs to venture beyond borders un-tapping the potential for integration for the retail side of the market. The Green Paper invites comments and contains over 28 concrete suggestions (cutting across 8 Directives) for possible new action.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Health and Consumer Protection: Consumer Affairs: Safeguarding Consumers' Interests: Ensuring Safe Shopping: Review of the Consumer Acquis http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/acquis/index_en.htm

European Commission: Press Release: IP/07/158: Consumers: Commission acts to boost confidence in digital world http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/158&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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