INFORMATION SOURCES – FACTS AND FIGURES

Reliable and up-to-date information (quantitative and qualitative) is essential for better policy making. It is a cornerstone of Consumer Policy Strategy. The continuous development of data-gathering forms a strong component in the new Consumer Policy Strategy and Programme 2007-2013.

Convincing policymakers and stakeholders of consumer concerns and demands depends on a clear and defined ‘problem statement’ and a fair and balanced assessment of all the impacts but notably on consumers, competitiveness, the EU market and business costs. Better and effective integration of consumer interests relies especially on objective and comprehensive data about consumer interests in a particular sector or policy area. Indicators are increasingly useful in justifying policies and in justifying the Commission’s budget and human resources. The Commission needs to monitor and evaluate national consumer policies. This is a Treaty obligation, under Article 153 which requires the Commission to take measures which "support, supplement and monitor" the policies pursued by the Member States. Information is needed in order to develop benchmarks for national consumer policies.

Consumer satisfaction indicators

In its "Consumer Policy Strategy 2002-2006", the Commission underlines the need for consumer policy to be backed by relevant information and data in order to prioritise in the most appropriate ways and to adjust policies, if necessary. A more comprehensive, systematic and continuous effort is needed to develop a suitable knowledge base as an essential tool for policy makers. The development of indicators on consumer satisfaction is mentioned explicitly as one of the key actions needed to expand this knowledge base and improve the quality of consumer policies.

A call for tender on "The development of consumer satisfaction indicators; pilot survey on consumer satisfaction" was launched in 2003. The work was finalised at the beginning of 2005 and the final report and executive summary are now available.

This report was produced by a joint team INRA and Deloitte & Touche for DG Health & Consumer Protection and represents the views of the contractor or author. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission's or DG Health & Consumer Protection's views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this report, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.

The European Commission has used this methodology to carry out a survey, covering eleven service sectors, on consumer satisfaction in the European Union.

Final report
Appendix
Executive summary

Prices of services

The European Commission launched a tender to develop a methodology for collecting price data in selected service sectors. The study elaborates a methodology to collect prices of services in eleven sectors.
Report - May 2006 (320 KB)
Annex 1, Annex 2, Annex 3 and Annex 4

Access to Justice

Eurobarometer survey

Report October 2004 (+/- 480 KB)

Executive Summary (+/- 275 KB)

Surveys

European consumers' attitudes on product labelling - May 2005

Eurobarometer survey on Passengers' Rights - 1 July 2005

Evaluation and monitoring of trends with regard to passenger needs on the level of service and treatment of passengers (short "EU service guarantees - EUSG")
EU Commission , Tender TREN/A5/25-364/2005, Final Report December 2006

EU public opinion on issues relating to business to consumer e-commerce (executive summary) (485MB)

Survey on price differences in Europe

For more details on price differences in the Internal Market please consult the Internal Market scoreboard

Survey on car prices differentials within the European Union

Consumer Protection in the EU

Flash Eurobarometer survey on Business Attitudes towards Cross-Border Sales and Consumer Protection, December 2006 10 MB - Summary 936 KB Updated 01-10-2007

Eurobarometer survey on Consumer Protection in the Internal Market, September 2006
Summary

Qualitative study on cross-border shopping in 28 European countries May 2004

Eurobarometer survey, November 2003 (7,25MB) - Data of the Eurobarometer

Eurobarometer surveys, November 2002 Two major surveys on cross-border shopping in the EU. The surveys look at both the consumer and business experience of, and attitudes to, cross-border shopping.

Facts and figures

Publication Consumers in Europe - facts and figures 1999-2004.

Publication Consumers in Europe - facts and figures 1996-2000. (5 MB)

Press release "First edition of Consumers in Europe- Facts and figures"

Services of General Interest

For more information on Services of General Interest, please consult: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/serv_gen/index_en.htm

Useful sources:

Eurostat

Directorate-General " Economic and Financial Affairs": Business and consumer surveys

Directorate-General " Internal Market"