EU competition policy and the consumer
Competition and Consumers in the 21st Century
Public event held in Brussels, 21 October 2009
Over the past few years, Commission competition policy has increasingly adopted a "consumer welfare" approach, targeting resource and action towards markets and cases where consumer detriment is greatest. This event highlighted how the European Commission and other competition authorities’ enforcement work affects consumers and discussed how best competition authorities can engage with consumers and their representatives.
A key element of the discussion related to the proposed follow-up to the Commission’s work on the White Paper on Damages Actions. On this subject, the majority of delegates expressed support for a system of effective collective redress and agreed the following statement based on a proposal from Paolo Martinello, President of BEUC (the European Consumers' Organisation):
"The Commission should propose, and the European Parliament and Member States should adopt, as a matter of urgency, a system of effective collective redress for Europe."
Other topics of discussion related to the importance of competition enforcement being complementary with other aspects of market regulation (for instance consumer and unfair contract terms law), the role of consumer associations and the importance of good communication and the media.
Conference materials
- Agenda

- Brochure

- Presentations:
- Mrs Neelie KROES, Commissioner for Competition, European Commission
- Mr Jim MURRAY, Former Director-General of BEUC
- Ms Anne FILY
, BEUC, Head of Legal and Economic Department
- Ms Breda KUTIN
, President of Slovenian Consumer Organisation ZPS, Vice-President of BEUC
- Mr Rogier KLIMBIE
, Adviseur Public Affairs, Consumentenbond
- Ms Anne-Lise SIBONY
, University of Liège
- Mr Gerhard HUEMER
, Director for Economic and Fiscal Policy , European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME)
- Mr Robert MADELIN
, Director General, DG Health and Consumers, European Commission
- Ms Lowri EVANS, Deputy Director General, DG Competition, European Commission
- Mr Alain BAZOT
, President of UFC-Que Choisir
- Mr Joost MARTENS
, Director-General, Consumers International
- Mr Phil EVANS
, Member, UK Competition Commission
- Dr Małgorzata KRASNODĘBSKA-TOMKIEL
, President of UOKiK, the Polish Competition Authority
- Ms Jacqueline MINOR, Director, DG Health and Consumers, European Commission
- Mr Geoff MEADE, European Editor, Press Association
- Mr Paolo MARTINELLO
, President of BEUC, president of Altroconsumo
- Mr Carles ESTEVA MOSSO, Acting Director, DG Competition, European Commission
- Ms Monique GOYENS
, Director General of BEUC
- Mr David ORTEGA PECIÑA
, Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios, European Public Affairs and Competition
- Ms Jacqueline RIFFAULT-SILK
, Conseiller à la Cour de Cassation, France
- Mr Henrik ØE
, Danish Consumer Ombudsman
Videos
Opening Speech of Mrs Neelie KROES, Commissioner for Competition, European Commission

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Session 1 - What Competition Policy Has Delivered for European Consumers?

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Session 2 - How can we deliver continuous improvement in consumer relations?

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Session 3 - What is the role of consumers in obtaining the best outcomes from competition policy?

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Closing remarks

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Other information
Contact in case of queries:
Directorate-General for Competition
Unit A6 "Consumer Liaison"
COMP-CONSUMER-EVENTS (at) ec.europa.eu
Tel: +32 (0) 2 29 8 74 36
Privacy statement (updated on 19 October 2009)
Registered participants: read the privacy statement on how we use personal data.
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