EUROPA - Consumer Affairs - Information for consumers

Information for consumers

Are you unsure about your safety and rights when making purchases from another EU country? Lost when it comes to getting the best deal on the goods on offer?

What if you decide to buy a new TV on the internet from a neighbouring country? Will it be delivered on time and in one piece? Will insurance cover any eventual damages? Will the seller give you a refund in case of problems?

While national authorities and organisations can provide you with specific advice on consumer issues in your own country, this website gives you an overview of how the European Commission is working to ensure that your rights are protected at EU level.


	Concerned about product safety ? MY SAFETY Children’s toys Dangerous products International cooperation Chemicals Children's sleeping environment Sunbed safety


	Interested in your rights as a consumer? MY RIGHTS Product guarantees Financial services Consumer credit Unfair commercial practices Energy Air Travel Help and advice


	Making a purchase ? MY SHOPPING International shopping e-shopping VAT Comparing prices


	Going on holiday ? MY HOLIDAYS Package holidays Timeshare Air travel Travelling with animals Be sun-smart this summer!

EU investigates consumer credit websites - a market underperforming for consumers (/consumers/enforcement/sweep/consumer_credits/index_en.htm)
Were you ever about to sign a contract for a personal loan, credit card, or other consumer credit and discovered that it was all working out more expensive than you had first expected?

Press release (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/6&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
Q&As (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/2&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN)

Read more (/consumers/enforcement/sweep/consumer_credits/index_en.htm)

Consumers to get faster, easier and cheaper solutions to disputes with EU traders (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/enews/enews.cfm?al_id=1200)
29 November 2011 – The Commission's new legislative proposals ensure that EU consumers solve their disputes with traders without going to court. Online shoppers from other EU countries will be able to solve their disputes directly online within 30 days.

Press release (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/1461&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
Q&As (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/840)

Read more (http://ec.europa.eu/consumer-adr)

Consumers: EU move to reduce cigarette ignited fires to save hundreds of lives each year (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/enews/enews.cfm?al_id=1196)
Cigarettes left unattended are one of the leading causes of fatal fires in Europe. Evidence shows that the number of fatalities can be reduced by over 40% with the introduction of 'Reduced Ignition Propensity' (RIP) cigarettes i.e. cigarettes which self-extinguish when left unattended and are thus less likely to cause fire.

Read more (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/enews/enews.cfm?al_id=1196)

Proposal for the new Consumer programme 2014-2020 (/consumers/strategy/programmes_en.htm)
Commissioner Dalli today presented the proposal for the new Consumer Programme 2014 - 2020 which will support EU consumer policy in the years to come. The aim is to place consumers at the centre of the Single Market and empower them to participate actively in the market and make it work for them. The proposal will be discussed by the Council and European Parliament from December 2011. The new Regulation should enter into force in 2014.

Read more (/consumers/strategy/programmes_en.htm)

Air Passengers’ Rights – Report from the European Consumer Centres (http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/consumer_reports_en.htm)
On 28 October 2011, the European Consumer Centres Network publish their report “Air Passengers Rights Report 2011 – in the aftermath of the Volcanic Ash Crisis”, highlighting problems that passengers in the EU experienced in 2010 and still do today i.e. cancelled flights and lost luggage. The report examines the help available to passengers in those circumstances.

Read more (http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/consumer_reports_en.htm)

Read more (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/enews/enews.cfm?al_id=1190)

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