European Consumer Summit 2016
date: 17/10/2016
venue: Charlemagne Building, rue de la Loi 170, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Summit in Drawings =>
Over the years, the annual European Consumer Summits have become a valuable occasion to increase awareness concerning consumer policy and a key tool to mainstream consumer interests in key EU policies.
The 2016 Summit was entirely dedicated to the fitness check of EU consumer and marketing law in the framework of Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). ‘Fitness Check’ is a comprehensive policy evaluation aimed at assessing whether the regulatory framework for a particular policy sector is ‘fit for purpose’.
Consumer policy represents one of the most significate achievements of EU single market and makes a tangible difference in the lives of the European citizens. EU consumer and marketing law guarantees a high level of consumer protection and facilitates cross-border trade in goods and services.
The Fitness Check's objective is to evaluate the functioning of the existing rules and to identify the needs for modernisation, so that EU citizens continue to benefit of a high level of consumer protection and at the same time economic operators, especially SMEs have a clear and fair level-playing field.
At the 2016 Summit, the participants discussed in particular issues around consumer information requirements, the fairness of commercial practices and of contractual terms and ways to enhance the effectiveness of the injunction procedure. Around 450 representatives of national authorities, European institutions, consumer organisations, businesses as well as academics took part in the Summit.
European Commission
Directorate General for Justice & Consumers
Further information on the REFIT
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See also: Privacy statement |
PROGRAMME
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| Morning session chaired by Tiina Astola, Director General, Directorate General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission Meeting room: Alcide de Gasperi Moderator: Cathy Smith, SpeakEasy |
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| 08:15 – 09:15 | Registration and welcome coffee |
| 09:15 – 10:00 |
Welcome and opening remarks
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| 10:00 – 10:45 |
Panel discussion "Challenges and perspectives" and Q&A
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| 10:45 – 13:30 |
Workshop 1: Simplifying consumer information requirements Presentations Workshop 2: Increasing fairness of commercial practices and contract terms Presentations Workshop 3: Enhancing the effectiveness of the injunction procedure Presentations |
| 13:30 –14:45 | Lunch buffet hosted by the European Commission Foyer outside Alcide de Gasperi |
| Afternoon session chaired by Despina Spanou, Director for Consumers, Directorate General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission Meeting room: Alcide de Gasperi Moderator: Cathy Smith, SpeakEasy |
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| 14:45-15:00 |
Key address Andrus Ansip, Vice-President, Digital Single Market, European Commission |
| 15:00 – 15:15 |
Keynote speech Věra Jourová, Commissioner, Justice Consumers and Gender Equality, European Commission |
| 15:15 – 15:30 |
Case studies from the ground: Presentations
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| 15:30 - 16:15 |
Reporting from the workshops and Q&A
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| 16:15 –17:00 |
High-level panel discussion "Towards a clear, stable and robust regulatory framework to boost consumer trust and sustainable growth" and Q&A
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| 17:00 – 17:15 |
Closing speech Vicky Ford, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) |
| 17:15 – 17:30 |
Conclusions Despina Spanou, Director for Consumers, Directorate General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission |
Summit in drawings Click on the image to view them in full size! Part 1 3Mb and part 2 is 7.7 Mb
