2011/2272(INI)
Strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers
Strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers 2011/2272(INI)
Lead committee dossier: IMCO/7/06683
| IMCO | |
| Lead Rapporteur | IRIGOYEN PÉREZ María (S&D) |
| Opinion Rapporteur(s) |
Procedure completed
2011/2272(INI) Strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers
Lead committee dossier: IMCO/7/06683
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | IMCO | IRIGOYEN PÉREZ María (S&D) | JUVIN Philippe (EPP), SCHMIDT Olle (ALDE), TURUNEN Emilie (Verts/ALE), HARBOUR Malcolm (ECR), TRIANTAPHYLLIDES Kyriacos (GUE/NGL), SALVINI Matteo (EFD) |
Activites
- 2012/05/22 Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
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2012/05/21
Debate in Parliament
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2012/05/08
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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A7-0155/2012
summary
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the own-initiative report drafted by María IRIGOYEN PÉREZ (S&D, ES) on a strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers. This report rests upon the principle that all consumers are susceptible to becoming vulnerable consumers over the course of their lives, since vulnerability can result from endogenous as well as exogenous causes. The causes are endogenous when the consumers vulnerability is the result of temporary or permanent causes that are inherent to the consumer or his or her physical or mental situation (children, adolescents, seniors, the disabled, etc.), and exogenous when the causes that make the consumer vulnerable are external: lack of knowledge of the language, lack of education (in general or specific to a sector of the market) or, simply, the need to use new technologies with which the consumer is not familiar. Vulnerability and vulnerable consumer: the report notes that the diversity of vulnerable situations hinders a uniform approach and the adoption of a comprehensive legislative instrument. This has thus led the existing legislation and policies in place to address the problem of vulnerability on a case-by-case basis. Members stress, therefore, that European legislation must address the problem of vulnerability among consumers as a horizontal task, taking into account consumers various needs, abilities and circumstances. Members underline that the strategy for the rights of vulnerable consumers must focus on reinforcing their rights and ensuring that those rights are effectively safeguarded and enforced, as well as providing consumers with all necessary means to ensure that they can take the appropriate decisions and be assertive, irrespective of the instrument used. The Commission and the Member States are encouraged to: maintain constant and close analysis of social and consumer behaviour and situations that may place certain groups or individuals in vulnerable situations, for instance by analysing consumer claims; put an end to vulnerability through specific measures, where appropriate, to provide protection for all consumers, regardless of ability and at whatever stage of life. Assessment of the current legislative framework: the report notes that Directive 2005/29/EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market introduced the issue of consumer vulnerability focusing on undue influence. It focuses primarily on vulnerability from the perspective of consumers economic interests. Members consider that appropriate and effective measures should also be taken in sectors not covered by Directive 2011/83/EU and where a particular vulnerability may exist, such as the financial sector or the transportation sector. Empowerment: consumers responsibility in their own protection: Members consider that the reinforcement of vulnerable consumers rights does not only entail a development in the legal corpus and effective enforcement of their rights, but also a strengthening of their capacity to take optimum decisions by themselves. Stressing that consumer vulnerability may originate from their difficulty in accessing or assessing the information given to them, Members ask the Commission to develop a consumer policy for all European consumers and to make sure that vulnerable consumers have access to the same goods and services and are not misled. The European Union and the Member States are invited to: pay more attention to and invest more in consumer information and education campaigns that target the right messages at the right consumer segment; further promote and develop existing initiatives (such as Dolceta, ECC-Net, etc.) while ensuring consistency between them in order to improve consumer information and education. The report calls on businesses to promote and develop self-regulatory initiatives to reinforce the protection of vulnerable consumers rights, ensure that they have access to better and clear information and develop practices that enhance all consumers capacity to understand and assess an agreement. They call on the competent national authorities to provide incentives in this regard as well as the necessary legal protection for consumers. Information and regulation: the Commission and the Member States are also asked to: better ensure that, in the development of the safety standards and operating conditions for certain products, quality requirements and protection measures are emphasised. Given the problem of accessibility of visually impaired persons to everyday living products, Members suggest that the regulation of safety standards and the conditions for certain products take into account, where possible, not only the foreseen use but also the foreseeable use; devote their efforts to making signage directed at citizens with disabilities accessible, including through standardisation; sign and ratify the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults; consider the reinforcement of the rights of vulnerable consumers as a key priority in the framework of the ongoing review of the proposal for a Regulation on a consumer programme 2014-2020, and of the upcoming publication of the Consumer Agenda; offer incentives to companies to establish a system of voluntary labelling of industrial product packaging in Braille (including, for example, the type of product and expiry date, at least); promote research and development of goods, services, equipment and facilities, which are universally designed, in other words usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialise design. Particularly problematic sectors: the report stresses the need: to protect consumers through information and the regulation of the financial markets, the complexity of such markets entailing that any consumer can potentially be vulnerable - such complexity may lead consumers into excessive debt; for action targeted mainly at vulnerable consumers, both at EU and Member State level, in line with the results of the most recent Eurobarometer showing that under 50% of consumers feel informed and protected; to effectively educate and inform children and young people and their caregivers about the importance of balanced nutrition and an active, healthy lifestyle. In this regard, Members urge the Commission to include the protection of children among the main priorities of the Consumer Agenda, with particular focus on aggressive or misleading TV and online advertising; to enhance consumers awareness regarding product safety, particularly targeting the most vulnerable groups of consumers, such as children and pregnant women; to introduce stricter advertising standards for sophisticated financial products aimed at retail investors who may not have a good understanding of financial risk, including the requirement to explicitly state any losses that the investor may incur; to consider that protection measures should be put in place to avoid excessive bills for children and adolescents regarding the use of communication technologies such as smart phones and games on the internet; to take the necessary measures to ensure better information provision and access to claim procedures regarding, inter alia, passengers rights and transparency of fares; to boost consumer confidence while overcoming barriers to cross-border e-commerce through the development of an effective policy which pays special attention to the needs of vulnerable consumers in all measures intended to close the digital divide; to accelerate the delivery of the European Digital Agenda to the benefit of all EU citizens and consumers; to take the appropriate measures to ensure that consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular have access to clear, understandable and comparable information about fees, conditions and means of redress, and can easily switch providers; to make it possible for vulnerable consumers to have effective access to alternative dispute resolution either free of charge or at the lowest cost possible. Lastly, Members call on the Commission and the Member States to collaborate on the adoption of a broad and coherent political and legislative strategy to tackle vulnerability, taking into account the diversity and complexity of all the situations involved.
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A7-0155/2012
summary
- 2012/04/26 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
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2012/03/08
Deadline Amendments
- 2012/02/03 Committee draft report
- 2011/10/27 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
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2011/10/20
EP officialisation
Documents
- Committee draft report: PE480.825
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0155/2012
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0209/2012
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 146 |
2011/2272(INI) Strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers
2012/03/14
IMCO
146 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 a (new) - having regard to Directive 2004/113/EC of the Council of 13 December 2004 implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services1, __________________ 1 OJ L 373, 21.12.2004, p. 37.
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 - having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as incorporated into the Treaties by Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), and in particular Article 7 (respect for private and family life), Article 21 (non-discrimination), Article 23 (equality between women and men), Article 24 (the rights of the child), Article 25 (the rights of the elderly), Article 26 (integration of persons with disabilities) and Article 28 (consumer protection) thereof,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 24 a (new) - having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2011 on mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A (A) Whereas promoting consumers' rights and their protection are core values for developing
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) (Aa) Whereas the ambition for EU consumer policy should be a high level of empowerment and protection for every consumer;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Β (B) Whereas the
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B (B) Whereas the single market must ensure, also, a high level of protection for all consumers with a special focus devoted to vulnerable consumers
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B (B) Whereas
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C (C) Whereas
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C (C) Whereas vulnerable consumers are a heterogeneous group comprised of persons who are considered as such because of their mental, physical or psychological disability, their age, gender, their credulity or their education, or persons made vulnerable by their social and financial situation who require special protection and a specific strategy on the part of the authorities,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C (C) Whereas vulnerable consumers are a heterogeneous group comprised of persons who are considered as such because of their mental, physical or psychological disability, their age
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C (C) Whereas vulnerable consumers are a heterogeneous group comprised of persons who are considered as such because of their mental, physical or psychological disability, their age, their credulity or their education, or persons made vulnerable by their social and financial situation who require special protection and a specific strategy on the part of the authorities; whereas any consumer, at some point in his/her life, can become vulnerable because of external factors and interactions with the market,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C (C) Whereas vulnerable consumers are a heterogeneous group comprised of persons who are considered as such because of their mental, physical or psychological disability, their age, or their credulity or
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C (C) Whereas vulnerable consumers
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) (Ca) Whereas women decide about more than 70% of household purchases in Europe,1 __________________ 1 McKinsey & Company: Women Matter: Gender diversity, a corporate performance driver, 2007
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) (Ca) Notes in this regard that children should be considered vulnerable consumers until they have reached the judicial age of criminal responsibility;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the diversity of vulnerable situations, both when consumers are placed under statutory protection and when they are in a specific situation of sectoral or temporary vulnerability, hinders a uniform approach and has led the legislation as well as the policies in existence up to the present time to address the problem of vulnerability on a case by case basis;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the diversity of vulnerable situations hinders a uniform approach and has led the legislation as well as the policies in existence up to the present time to address the problem of vulnerability on a case by case basis; emphasises that although any consumer can find himself/herself in a vulnerable situation in certain circumstances, some groups of people are structurally vulnerable because of their mental, physical or psychological infirmity, age or credulity - such as children, teenagers, the elderly or certain people made vulnerable by their social and financial situation (such as those with excessive debts) and need therefore special protection
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Notes that because of the diversity of vulnerable situations
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Notes that the diversity of vulnerable situations hinders a uniform approach and has led the legislation as well as the policies in existence up to the present time to address the problem of vulnerability on a case by case basis
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that Member States must take the appropriate measures to provide adequate guarantees for the protection of vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that the strategy for the rights of vulnerable consumers must focus on
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that the
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that the strategy for the rights of vulnerable consumers must focus on effectively protecting consumers and preventing vulnerability, irrespective of the instrument used; considers that the notion of "average consumer" lacks the flexibility needed to adapt to specific cases and sometimes does not correspond to real life situations
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Underlines that the
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that a strategy for addressing consumer vulnerability must be proportionate so as not to restrict individual freedoms and consumer choice;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Underlines the need for action targeted mainly at vulnerable consumers, both at EU and Member State level, in line with the results of the most recent Eurobarometer showing that under 50% of consumers feel informed and protected; vulnerable groups, in particular, are having difficulty in understanding the choices available to them, are not aware of their rights, are facing more problems and displaying reluctance to act when problems arise;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Asks the Commission and encourages the Member States to maintain constant and close observation of social and consumer behaviour that may place certain groups or individuals in vulnerable situations
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Asks the Commission and encourages the Member States to maintain constant and close observation of social and consumer behaviour and conditions that may place certain groups or individuals in vulnerable situations in order to prevent such behaviour, and to put an end to vulnerability, when it occurs, through specific protection measures;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Asks the Commission and encourages the Member States to
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Asks the Commission and encourages the Member States to maintain constant and close observation of social and consumer behaviour that may place certain groups or individuals in vulnerable situations in order to prevent such behaviour, and to put an end to vulnerability, when it occurs, through
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that differences still exist between products of the same brand in different Member States, as a result of which the consumers of some Member States are less protected;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to collaborate on the adoption of a broad and coherent political and legislative strategy against vulnerability, taking into account the diversity and complexity of all situations involved;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to put into effect Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, particularly as regards island and mountain regions, whose vulnerable consumers have a more difficult access to broadband, work places, health and educational system as citizens living in big urban areas;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recommends that the Member States sign and ratify the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls on the European Commission and the Council to consider the reinforcement of the rights of vulnerable consumers as a key priority in the framework of the ongoing review of the proposal for a Regulation on a consumer programme 2014-2020, and of the upcoming publication of the Consumer Agenda;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Calls on the European Commission to include the dimension of consumers' vulnerability in the work of the Consumer Scoreboard, for instance by breaking down data by age, education level, or socioeconomic factors to have a clearer overview of the needs of vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes that Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business- to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market focuses
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes that Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business- to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes that Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business- to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market focuses insufficiently on the problem of vulnerability, limiting itself primarily to consumers' economic interest
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes that Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business- to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Notes that Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business- to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market focuses insufficiently on the problem of vulnerability, limiting itself to consumers' economic interest, also finds that the use of the term average consumer, often provide unsatisfying protection for vulnerable consumers where economic activity is aimed at a broad group of consumers;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Notes that it is impossible to have a comprehensive legislative instrument dedicated to the protection of vulnerable consumers; insists on the fact that the latter should be taken into account on a case-by-case basis in the making of EU laws;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Regrets that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights, which is the most recent instrument devoted to the protection thereof, does not apply to certain sectors where a particular vulnerability exists, and does not contain a specific regulation in regard thereto, beyond a mention in Whereas clause 34; considers that transposition of this Directive by Member States should be consistent with the problem of consumer vulnerability and that consumer protection measures should be applied in such a way that particularly vulnerable consumers receive the protection they need
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Emphasises that the current legal framework does not permit elimination of differences in the quality of products of the same brand in different Member States, and calls on the Commission to supplement the consumer protection legislation accordingly;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Regrets that the efforts of the European Commission are centred principally on promoting consumer empowerment; although the Commission’s concern that European consumers be better informed about their options and their rights is laudable, and all action in this regard contributes to a more efficient internal market, this focus is clearly insufficient to protect vulnerable consumers, who require specific attention and special legislation;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Regrets that the efforts of the European Commission are centred principally on promoting consumer empowerment; although the Commission's concern that European consumers be better informed about their options and their rights is laudable, and all action in this regard contributes to a more efficient internal market, this focus is clearly insufficient to protect consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular, who require specific attention in order to develop a consumer policy for all European consumers;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that many consumers’ vulnerability also results
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that many consumers' vulnerability results precisely from their lack of assertiveness and comprehension of the information they receive or of the options available, or from their lack of awareness of the existing complaint and redress schemes,
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that many consumers' vulnerability results precisely from their lack of a
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that many consumers’ vulnerability results precisely from their lack of assertiveness and comprehension of the information they receive
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Notes that many consumers’ vulnerability results
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls therefore on the European Commission and the Member States to further promote and develop existing initiatives (such as Dolceta, ECC-Net, etc.) while ensuring consistency between the latter to improve consumers' information and education;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the EU and the Member States to pay more attention to and invest more in consumer information and education campaigns that target the right messages at the right consumer segment;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Points out that, in the case of contractual relations, the consumer frequently is the weaker party in such relations; when said party to said contracts is in a vulnerable situation, providers must be involved in the protection of
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Points out that, in the case of contractual relations, the consumer frequently is the weaker party in such relations;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Points out that, in the case of contractual relations, the consumer frequently is the weaker party in such relations;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Points out that, in the case of contractual relations, the consumer frequently is the weaker party in such relations; when said party to said contracts is in a vulnerable situation,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Underlines that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights strengthens pre- contractual and contractual information requirements, articulating a stronger right of withdrawal when the provider or seller has failed to fulfil his legal obligation to provide said information, and requiring that it be conveyed in a clear and comprehensible manner; notes that, in spite of this, vulnerable consumers may be incapable of reading
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Underlines that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights strengthens pre- contractual and contractual information requirements, articulating a stronger right of withdrawal when the provider or seller has failed to fulfil his legal obligation to provide said information, and requiring that it be conveyed in a clear and comprehensible manner; notes that
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Underlines that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights strengthens pre- contractual and contractual information requirements, articulating a stronger right of withdrawal when the provider or seller has failed to fulfil his legal obligation to provide said information, and requiring that it be conveyed in a clear and comprehensible manner and disclosed without any hindrance; notes that, in spite of this, vulnerable consumers may be incapable of reading or assimilating the information given to them;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Underlines that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights strengthens pre- contractual and contractual information requirements, articulating a stronger right of withdrawal when the provider or seller has failed to fulfil his legal obligation to provide said information, and requiring that it be conveyed in a clear and comprehensible manner;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Underlines that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights strengthens pre- contractual and contractual information requirements, articulating a stronger right of withdrawal when the provider or seller has failed to fulfil his legal obligation to provide said information, and requiring that it be conveyed in a clear and comprehensible manner; notes that, in spite of this, vulnerable consumers may be incapable of
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to ensure that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products, especially those intended for use by consumers in vulnerable situations, consider not only the foreseen use but also the foreseeable use, and that quality requirements and protection measures be emphasised, notes that the foreseen use often does not address the specific risks that consumers in vulnerable situations might face; calls on the future revision of the General Product Safety Directive to focus on these abovementioned concerns;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products, especially those intended for use by consumers in vulnerable situations, as well as in particular with regard to their accessibility for everyday living, which does not endanger visually impaired persons’ safety and health, consider not only the foreseen use but also the foreseeable use, and that quality requirements and protection measures be emphasised;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products, especially those intended for use by consumers in vulnerable situations, consider where possible not only the foreseen use but also the foreseeable use, and that quality requirements and protection measures be emphasised;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Asks the Member States and the European Commission to devote their efforts to harmonising signage directed at citizens with disabilities, and to promote the provision of information by companies in formats accessible to
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Asks the Member States and the European Commission to devote their efforts to harmonising signage directed at citizens with disabilities,
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Asks the Member States and the European Commission to devote their efforts to
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Ask the Member States to sign and ratify the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults which applies to the protection in international situations of adults who, by reason of an impairment or insufficiency of their personal faculties, are not in a position to protect their interests,
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, in accordance with the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility, to offer incentives to companies to establish a system of voluntary labelling of industrial product packaging in Braille (including, for example, the type of product and expiry date, at least), in order to make life easier for visually-impaired consumers;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. In the same spirit, calls for the Member States and the European Commission to promote research and development of goods, services, equipment and facilities, which are universally designed, in other words usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes the fact that in international forums, the need to protect consumers through information and regulation of the financial markets has been recognised, the complexity of such markets entailing that in the majority of cases any consumer is vulnerable; calls for an uniform application of the relevant legislation on financial markets across all Member States to limit implementing differences that might lead to uncertainty and regulatory arbitrage for the consumers; suggests that technical standards defined by ESMA could be an appropriate way of achieving this, in keeping with the concept of a single rule book for financial services;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes the fact that in international forums, the need to protect consumers through information and regulation of the financial markets has been recognised, the complexity of such markets entailing that
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes the fact that in international forums, the need to protect consumers through information and the regulation of the financial markets has been recognised
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Notes the fact that in international forums, the need to protect consumers through information and regulation of the financial markets has been recognised, the complexity of such markets entailing that in the majority of cases any consumer is vulnerable, with the frequent result that consumers are misled and overborrow;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Calls for information to be better targeted and distributed through all channels, not only official channels but also through consumer organisations, regional, municipal and local offices which are much closer and visible and easily accessible to less mobile consumers;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Deplores the fact that the market for financial products (loans and credit cards) is functioning poorly for consumers and that, according to a recent survey by the Commission, 70% of financial institutions’ and companies’ websites were making basic errors in their publicity and in the basic, required information on the products on offer, while the cost was presented in a misleading way; stresses that such practices and the complexity and difficulty in understanding the products in question often lead consumers into excessive debt; emphasises that the purpose of the Directive on consumer credit, which has recently been transposed into Member States’ national legislation, is to make it easier for consumers to understand credit offers and not be misled into excessive debt;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Deplores that advertising for food with high fat, salt and sugar content is aimed at children and young people, who increasingly suffer the consequences of sedentariness and obesity; calls on the actors involved to educate and inform minors and their caregivers about the importance of a balanced diet; in this regard it should be analysed in depth if there is a need for stricter rules regarding commercials aimed at children and young people;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Deplores that advertising and promotional offers for food with high fat, salt and sugar content
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to enhance consumers' awareness regarding product safety, particularly targeting the most vulnerable group of consumers, such as children and pregnant women;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Voices its concern about the impact on vulnerable consumers of the routine use of online behavioural advertising and the development of intrusive online advertising practices, especially through the use of social networks; calls again the European Commission to conduct a detailed analysis of the impact of misleading and aggressive advertising on vulnerable consumers, in particular children and adolescents, by the end of 2012;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Highlights the fact that advertisements for financial investment products often fail to sufficiently explain their underlying risks and overemphasise possible benefits that often fail to materialise, thereby exposing consumers of financial services products to loss of their capital; calls on the European Commission to introduce stricter advertising standards for sophisticated financial products aimed at retail investors who may not have a good understanding of financial risk, including the requirement to explicitly state any losses that the investor may incur.
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Considers that children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to aggressive marketing and advertising ; calls on the Commission to conduct a detailed analysis of the impact of misleading and aggressive advertising on vulnerable consumers, in particular children and adolescents;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Emphasises that special attention has to be given to online marketing of harmful substances such as alcohol which reaches young people. Due to the nature and scope of the online marketing tactics i.e. social networks, online marketing of alcohol is very difficult to monitor for individual Member States and actions from the European Commission would be of added value;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Emphasises especially the vulnerability of children and adolescents to advertisements for alcohol and tobacco; considers that aggressive marketing and advertisement for alcohol and tobacco targeted specifically at children and adolescents should be banned
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which is exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which is exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability; encourages the European Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure transparency in fares; asks the Commission, in their planned revision of the EU passenger rights legislation, to take into account the situation of vulnerable consumers and to revise the compensation levels, criteria and mechanisms, with the proviso that current levels are not weakened;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which is exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability; encourages the European Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure transparency in fares, as well as to adopt a single passengers’ rights charter harmonising the quality and accessibility of services, applicable in all transport sectors;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which is exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability; this means that equal access must be provided for persons with reduced mobility and disabilities, emphasising that services for these travellers must be provided without hindrance; encourages the European Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure transparency in fares and the correct observance and implementation of existing legislation;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Deplores that the digitalisation of services and the added cost that the management thereof poses for brick-and- mortar offices and stores may mean that senior consumers, who are the ones primarily affected by the digital divide, cannot take advantage of the benefits of online commerce and are also impacted by the ‘poverty premium’, paying more for the same products. It does not follow that online commerce is a method of combating poverty;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Deplores that the digitalisation of services and the added cost that the management thereof poses for brick-and- mortar offices and stores may mean that
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Deplores that the digitalisation of services and the added cost that the management thereof poses for brick-and- mortar offices and stores may mean that senior consumers, who are the ones primarily affected by the digital divide, cannot take advantage of the benefits of online commerce and are also impacted by the ‘poverty premium’ or the ‘disability premium’, paying more for the same products or being dependent on assistance from others;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Deplores that the digitalisation of services
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Stresses that children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable regarding the use of communication technologies such as smart phones and games on the internet; considers that protection measures to avoid excessive billings in such circumstances should be put in place;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines that the liberalisation of the main supply markets
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines that unfortunately the liberalisation of the main supply markets
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines that the liberalisation of the main supply markets, in general, has not resulted in a general lowering of prices, and has in fact resulted in added difficulty for the majority of citizens in knowing the best price, changing providers and understanding the items billed, or if it has also lowered the prices, especially in the case of unrestricted price competition, the quality of accessibility, which should otherwise be guaranteed to everyone, has deteriorated dramatically;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines that the liberalisation of the main supply markets,
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Stresses that it would be beneficial to avoid the practice applied in certain Member States where utility bills (e.g. electricity bills) are linked to the collection from consumers of tax owing to the state; this type of practice causes hardship principally for vulnerable consumers and, because the inclusion of tax owing results in exorbitant bills, there is a danger that these utilities, which are a fundamental service, will be cut off; notes that Member States must ensure, especially with regard to utilities, that rights and the obligations regarding vulnerable consumers are respected;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to consider establishing free-of-charge mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to consider establishing
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to consider establishing free-of-charge mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution that can be activated automatically when a vulnerable consumer is involved, as well as for collective actions; emphasises that disputes must be dealt with rapidly and inexpensively, and decisions taken implemented swiftly;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to collaborate on the adoption of a broad and coherent political and legislative strategy against vulnerability, especially in the Consumer Agenda and the Consumer Programme; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the Consumer Agenda and the Consumer Programme excludes all discrimination based on gender in the access to and supply of goods and services;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to collaborate in cooperation with the European Parliament on the adoption of a broad and coherent political and legislative strategy against vulnerability, especially in the Consumer Agenda and the Consumer Programme; underlines that the creation of a strategy for strengthening the rights of the most vulnerable consumers, in order to increase their participation in the Single Market, contributes not only to the social inclusion of such consumers and to advancement toward a more just and tolerant society, but also to ensuring a more dynamic, safe and competitive internal market; points out that this task should involve not only the authorities but also businesses and providers in order to facilitate a more transparent contractual balance.
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to collaborate on the adoption of
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18.
source: PE-485.837
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History
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