EUROPA - Consumers Affairs

A new European Consumer Agenda - Boosting confidence and growth - putting consumers at the heart of the single market
"The strategy adopted today aims to empower consumers and build their confidence, to exercise their power of choice and to have their rights properly enforced."

Read more (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/491)

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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STRATEGY AND PROGRAMME Policy strategy Financial programme Tenders and grants Consumer Markets Scoreboard Integration Enlargement Consumer scene by country	CONSUMER RESEARCH Consumer Research Consumer Scoreboard Market Studies Complaints Behavioural Economics Empowerment Consumer Scoreboard Database Consumer Research Database Facts & Figures Public procurement	SAFETY Latest safety news Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products (RAPEX) Product legislation European standards Market surveillance and enforcement Services: sectors Services: background International cooperation Committees, networks and working groups Product specific issues Projects

RIGHTS Unfair commercial practices General contractual rights E-Shopping Timeshare and travel Financial services Services of general interest Proposal for a Directive on Consumer Rights European Contract Law-Common Frame of Reference	ENFORCEMENT Consumer Enforcement package Cross-border enforcement and cooperation (CPC) International cooperation Injunctions Sweeps	REDRESS ECC-Net Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Individual judicial redress Collective redress
CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT Consumer information Consumer education Consumer associations and networks European Consumer Consultative Group Consumer behaviour Consumer product testing	COSMETICS Regulatory framework Scientific and technical assessment Cosmetic ingredients database Cosmetic products Ban on animal testing Cooperation and trade