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)
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
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.
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"
For more information on Services of General Interest, please consult: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/serv_gen/index_en.htm
Archives - Other consumer surveysUseful sources:
Directorate-General " Economic and Financial Affairs": Business and consumer surveys