European Economic
and Social Committee
Parcel delivery / e-commerce
See EESC opinion in all languages under Related documents at the end of this page.
Key points:
The EESC welcomes the Commission Green Paper and calls on the Commission to draw up a recommendation focusing on six priority requirements:
- joint and several liability regime that would apply to online sellers and delivery operators throughout the delivery chain, in particular when consumers return items upon withdrawal or lack of conformity;
- full traceability of deliveries;
- the obligation to offer consumers the choice of more delivery options;
- full acceptance of the system of national e-commerce delivery problem-solving centres;
- the obligation to guarantee fair working conditions;
- transparency regarding conditions and prices;
and to present a report on the results from individual Member States and cross-border deliveries.
The EESC:
- believes that the shortcomings in the regulatory framework need to be addressed and recommends a structured dialogue between representatives of organised civil society on a code of conduct;
- calls strongly for the creation of a European network of national e-commerce delivery problem‑solving centres and the establishment of a European monitoring centre to address the sector's problems;
- advocates setting up a rapid alert system for e-commerce delivery;
- considers that, to achieve an integrated parcel delivery market, high-quality jobs are needed with a sound, well-integrated social dimension.
For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.