CONSUMER POLICY

On Friday 15 th November Commissioner Mimica addressed for the first time the general assembly of BEUC, The European Consumer Organisation.

Mr Mimica stressed that despite the limited time still available to the current Commission, it is still possible to deliver tangible benefits in the next 12 months and reiterated his commitment to serve the consumers of Europe making full use of the remainder of his mandate. A core element in this work will be to show to consumers the real value added that Europe can bring, and to advocate for strong consumer organisations that can assist consumers in their everyday life.

In order to demonstrate this value added, Commissioner Mimica recalled his desire to drive matters forward as far as possible on a number of key priorities based and build on the framework set out in the European Consumer Agenda

These priorities are to take forward on-going legislative proposals; strengthen the enforcement on existing consumer laws; ensure timely implementation of recently adopted measures on alternative and online dispute resolution and support Member States and consumer organisations in those parts of Europe where the untapped potential of consumer culture is greatest.

These actions are important for the individual consumer but also for Europe as a whole. Consumer policy has an important place in the Union's broader agenda to strengthen economic recovery and growth, reduce youth unemployment and overcome social hardship. Consumers are the power-house of the single market, accounting for well over half (56%) of EU GDP. Safe, informed and confident consumers can play a leading role in driving the economy and fuelling economic recovery. Consumer policy is a cross-cutting economic recovery policy.

The event also served as an opportunity for BEUC's members, all representatives of national consumer organisations from across Europe, to bring to the attention of the Commissioner a number of topical issues that go beyond traditional consumer policy, but are of high interest to consumers. These included, amongst others, online search, data protection and sustainability.

Read the full speech