New Consumer Agenda. Strengthening consumer resilience for sustainable recovery

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 13 November 2020, setting out a New Consumer Agenda aimed at further strengthening consumer protection across the European Union (EU).

Further information:

The New Consumer Agenda presents a vision for a common consumer policy for the period 2020-2025. It builds on the European Consumer Agenda from 2012 and the New Deal for Consumers from 2018. It aims to empower European consumers to play an active role in the green and digital transitions. It also aims to address consumers’ immediate needs in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and to increase their resilience.

The Agenda covers five key priority areas:

• The green transition;
• The digital transformation;
• Redress and enforcement of consumer rights;
• Specific needs of certain consumer groups; and
• International cooperation.

The Agenda takes a holistic approach covering various EU policies that are of particular relevance for consumers. It reflects the need to take account of consumer protection requirements in the formulation and implementation of other policies and activities. It complements and supports other EU initiatives as well as relevant international frameworks.

The Council of the European Union adopted a set of conclusions on this Agenda on 22 February 2021.

Official

European Commission: Policies: Consumer Protection https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/consumers/consumer-protection_en

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: A New Consumer Agenda strategy https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-new-push-for-european-democracy/file-a-new-consumer-agenda/01-2021

European Commission: Press Release, 13/11/2020: New Consumer Agenda: European Commission to empower consumers to become the driver of transition https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2069

European Commission: Speech by Vice-President Jourová on New Consumer Agenda (13 November 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_2127

European Commission: Speech by Commissioner Reynders on New Consumer Agenda (13 November 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_2128

General Secretariat of the Council: Council conclusions on the New Consumer Agenda (22 February 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/48560/st06364-en21.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 22/02/2021: New Consumer Agenda: Council adopts conclusions https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/22/new-consumer-agenda-council-adopts-conclusions/

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News

EurActiv, 16/11/2020: EU Commission aims to tackle greenwashing in new consumer agenda https://www.euractiv.com/section/circular-economy/news/eu-commission-aims-to-tackle-greenwashing-in-new-consumer-agenda/

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Commentary and Analysis

BEUC: Press Release, 13/11/2020: Consumer groups welcome new EU consumer policy strategy for the next five years https://www.beuc.eu/publications/consumer-groups-welcome-new-eu-consumer-policy-strategy-next-five-years/html

Politico, 13/11/2020: Let’s ensure the European single market delivers for consumers https://www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/lets-ensure-the-european-single-market-delivers-for-consumers/

EPRS: Briefing, February 2021: New consumer agenda https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2021)679079

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