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Introduction
The European Commission, together with the Member States, has created the ECC-Net
as a tool to have better informed and educated consumers and also to help them in getting the appropriate
redress in case of a violation of their rights as consumers in cross-border transactions.
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The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)
Who can you turn to if you have a problem with a product you bought in another European country?
Who can inform you of your rights and what you are entitled to as a European consumer?
If you have a complaint against a company or you are in a dispute with a trader, who can assist you and help solve your case?
The Network of European Consumer Centres is there to help with such questions and any other problems you
may have concerning your activities as a consumer in Europe. The aim is that you should feel as confident when shopping in
another country as you do at home.
List of centres 
Updated 20-10-2009 and centres' websites.
NEW ! 2008 European Consumer Centre Network (ECC-Net) Annual Report
NEW ! Success stories: examples of complaints resolved by the ECCs
NEW ! 
Press release:
European Consumer Centres – transport remains the number one problem sector for consumers, accounting for one third of complaints
2007 European Consumer Centre Network (ECC-Net) Annual Report
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What is the ECC-Net?
The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) is an EU-wide network designed to promote consumer confidence
by advising citizens on their rights as consumers and providing easy access to redress, particularly in cases where the
consumer has made a cross-border purchase.
The Network was created by merging two previously existing networks: the European Consumer Centres or 'Euroguichets',
which provided information and assistance on cross-border issues; and the European Extra-Judicial Network or "EEJ-Net" which helped consumers
to resolve their disputes through alternative dispute resolution schemes (ADRs) using mediators or arbitrators.
The aim of the European Consumer Centres is to provide consumers with a wide range of services, from providing information
on their rights to giving advice and assistance with their complaints and the resolution of disputes.
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What services do the centres provide?
- They inform consumers about the opportunities offered by the Internal Market.
- They advise individuals facing a consumer-related problem and support them in pursuing cross-border complaints.
- They advise on out-of-court-settlement procedures for consumers throughout Europe.
- They provide consumers with easy and informed access to such procedures across borders.
- They co-operate with each other and with other European networks such as the FIN-NET
(Financial Network), SOLVIT and the
European Judicial network in civil and commercial matters.
- They provide information on EU and national legislation and case law
- They conduct cross border comparisons of such things as prices, legislation and other issues of consumer concern.
- They provide the European Commission with important ‘grassroots’ information on consumer concerns.
Videoclip
Brochure on the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)
Updated 03-09-2009
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Joint Projects & reports
In addition to expanding the service they provide to individual
consumers, the ECC-NET are also undertaking the increasingly important task
of providing the Commission with feed back and support on specific issues.
Here are the common projects undertaken by the network as well as by some individual ECCs
2008
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European Consumer Centre Ireland - Car rental contracts:
Business practices, contract terms and consumer protection
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European Consumer Centre Ireland - The development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Ireland Updated 27-04-2008
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The European Online Marketplace: Consumer Complaints 2007
2007
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Air Passenger Rights: Consumer Complaints 2006 , A summary and analysis of consumer complaints reported to the European Consumer Centre Network
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Timeshares, Holiday Clubs etc. – ECC Sweden’s Work in Remedying Consumer Problems reported by the Swedish Consumer Agency in cooperation with ECC Sweden.
2006
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Air Passenger Rights: Consumer Complaints 2005 , A summary and analysis of consumer complaints reported to the European Consumer Centre Network
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Money changing in EU Member States outside the euro area (conclusions from a field study) - Prague, April 2006
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The European Online Marketplace: Consumer Complaints 2005 - A summary and analysis of consumer complaints reported to the European Consumer Centre Network,
Stockholm 2006
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2006 FIFA World Cup : As a guest in Germany, ECC Net 2006.
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Conference Report, E-commerce Trustmarks in Europe (European Consumer Centre Denmark - conference on e-commerce trustmarks in Europe10 November 2006)
2005
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Car Rental Contracts - An analysis of European cross-border complaints and consumer protection , (November 2005)
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The European Online Marketplace: Consumer Complaints 2004 - A summary and analysis of consumer complaints reported to the European Consumer Centre Network, (May 2005)
2004
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The European Online Marketplace: Consumer Complaints - A summary and analysis of consumer complaints reported to the European Consumer Centre Network, March 2004
2003
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Realities of the European Online Marketplace – A cross-border e-commerce project by the European Consumer Centre's Network, May 2003.
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Timeshare in Europe, "The experience of European Consumer Centres (ECCs)” , January 2003
2002
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The problem of products resembling Timeshare in Europe - The experience of the European Consumer Centres , December 2002
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Events
2007
List of Upcoming Public Events
2006
Workshop On Consumer Alternative Dispute Resolution - Vienna 23 February 2006
2004
Workshop: "How to Reinforce the Quality of ADR through the Notification Process?" - January 30, between 10:00-17:00 TAIEX seminar
2003
Review of the European Extra-Judicial Network and future perspectives for improved EU Consumer Assistance (EEJ-NET) - Brussels, 10-11 June 2003
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