Right to repair

Background

In recent years, there has been a marked tendency to replace rather than repair faulty products, with few incentives for consumers to opt for repair once the legal guarantee has expired. This has resulted in a massive increase in waste.

To counter this trend, in March 2023, the European Commission published a new set of proposals which should make it easier and cheaper to repair products that are technically repairable after the legal guarantee expires or that are no longer functional as a result of wear and tear. The measures are also expected to boost employment in the repair industry.

Key points

The EESC is supportive of the Commission's proposals, which address a major issue that affects all people in the EU. However, the EESC would like to see the Commission adopt more ambitious measures to ensure that the right to repair becomes a reality. More specifically, it advocates:

• a ban on products that cannot be repaired, rather than a mere obligation for producers to inform consumers when a product cannot be repaired;
• more incentives to opt for repair. There are a number of simple ways to encourage repair: for instance, getting a product repaired during its warranty period could lead to this period being extended;
• launching a retraining programme. Professions have changed considerably and mechanics-based repairs have become mostly connections-based ones;
• innovative solutions such as 3D printing or refurbishing, which the Commission has excluded from the proposal.

Link to full opinion

Additional information

EESC section responsible: Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)

Opinion type: mandatory Commission referral

Rapporteur: Thierry Libaert (Civil Society Organisations– France)

Co-rapporteur: Emilie Prouzet (Employers - France)

Reference: COM(2023) 155 final 2023/0083 COD; COM(2023) 155 final 2023/0083 COD

Date of adoption by section: 02/06/2023

Result of the vote: 66 votes in favour and none against, with no abstentions

Date of adoption by plenary: 14/06/2023

Result of the vote:  178 votes in favour and one against, with one abstention

Contacts

Press officer

Tel.: + 32 2 546 8422 | Mob: +32 475 99 94 32

email: daniela.marangoni@eesc.europa.eu

Policy officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 8438

email: dalila.bernard@eesc.europa.eu