Europaudvalget 2005-06
2694 - konkurrenceevne Bilag 5
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BEUC
The European Consumers' Organisation
Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs
Avenue de Tervueren, 36/4
B - 1040 Bruxelles
Tel: (32 2) 743.15.90
Fax: (32 2) 740.28.02
[email protected]
BEUC/424/2005
06/10/2005
Programme of Community action in the field of health
and consumer protection 2007-2013:
BEUC position paper
This is the BEUC position paper on the European Commission Proposals for a new
Community Policy and Health Strategy to run form 2007 to 2013
1
.
The proposal is in the form of a draft decision with three annexes and explanatory
material. Briefly, the Commission proposes to join health and consumer policy together
in one programme with some aims or objectives common to both policy areas and others
that are specific either to health or consumer policy.
SUMMARY of MAIN POINTS of BEUC’S SUBMISSION
Consumer priorities must be maintained
The proposed joining of health and consumer policy should not diminish the importance
and specificity of consumer policy. The programme should focus on the consumer as an
important economic player and driver of competition, and on the role of consumer policy
in improving the functioning of the Internal Market. There are some factors in common
between consumer and health policy but consumer policy is also closely linked to many
other policy areas, including competition, trade, internal market, economic policy,
transport, agriculture, energy, etc. (Of course there may also be health aspects to some
or all of these policies but in a different way.)
Maximum harmonisation must not be used as a one-size-fits-all principle
The objective of ensuring a common high level of protection for all EU consumers needs
to be maintained. However, we are concerned about an apparent presumption in favour
of maximum harmonisation in the review of the consumer acquis. The issue of maximum
harmonisation should be subject to a broad and open debate and evaluated on a case
1
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Healthier, safer, more
confident citizens: a health and consumer protection strategy and Proposal for a Decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme of Community action in the
field of health and consumer protection 2007-2013 (COM(2005)115)
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by case basis. Member states must continue to have the possibility to anticipate or
respond to new challenges in the market place.
Concrete measures to achieve the integration of consumer policy into all EU
policies
Integrating consumer policy into all EU policies has always been one of our demands.
For this to happen in practice, there is a need for concrete measures at EU level, which
should include benchmarking and monitoring instruments to measure the achievement
of this objective.
Need for consumer-oriented research at EU level
Consumer oriented research is essential to ensure that the perspective of the demand
side of markets is taken into account. A reporting mechanism on consumption and
consumer protection at EU level should also be established to provide objective and
reliable information. The information and expertise of consumer organisations must be
used to better understand consumers and markets. We are concerned that the
Consumer Institute would mean such expertise would be given less attention.
Better enforcement and redress mechanisms
More emphasis should be put on enforcement at national and cross-border level by
establishing a general framework for cooperation between EU member states. Effective
redress mechanisms for national and cross-border transactions must be put in place by
improving access to alternative dispute resolution systems and assessing the quality of
existing schemes.
Financial support to develop capacity-building of consumer organisations
We welcome the programme’s aim to increase the participation of consumer
organisations in EU policy-making. Such support should also be provided at national
level for consumer organizations in the new member states which lack financial
resources. Capacity-building of consumer organisations is also key if consumers are to
have more awareness of their rights, especially in the new member states.
Consumers need a
nutrition policy
that addresses the way in which foods are
marketed, the use of health and nutrition claims, the high levels of salt, sugar and fat in
many products and the nutritional information provided to consumers.