On 5 February 2025, the European Commission released its Communication on a “Comprehensive Toolbox for Safe and Sustainable E-Commerce.” The EESC opinion will build on this proposal to develop concrete measures that ensure fair competition with third-country online platforms.
EESC Call for fair competition with regard to third country platforms
The upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU requested this exploratory opinion given that at present, consumers are experiencing dynamic changes due to the development of digital technologies and the green transition. In order to ensure a high level of consumer protection, it is necessary to respond adequately to changes in the consumer environment and to take action in response to current long-term challenges.
The proposal for a Directive to amend the Package Travel Directive aims to make the protection of travellers more effective, including in crisis situations.
Download — EMSK arvamus: Revision of the package travel directive
The EESC supports the development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as an alternative to court proceedings when consumers seek redress for the damage traders may cause them, alongside accessible judicial proceedings and enforcement of consumer rights by national authorities. It considers enforcement by national authorities to be essential as a foundation of trust in consumer protection, while redress, whether through court or an ADR procedure, offers a way to restore trust when an incident occurs between consumer and trader.
Download — EMSK arvamus: Alternative dispute resolution
The Toy Safety Directive sets out the safety requirements that toys must meet before they can be marketed in the EU. This initiative aims to protect children better against risks in toys, particularly from chemicals. It builds on work such as the chemicals strategy for sustainability, and on an evaluation of the current toy safety rules completed in 2020. At the same time, it aims to strengthen the Single Market for toys.
Download — EMSK arvamus: Revision of the toy safety directive
The exploratory opinion at the request of the Spanish Presidency will look into advertising through influencers and its impact on consumers. Influencers as content creators with large numbers of followers on social networks have a crucial impact on consumer behaviour and, inter alia, on consumer decisions.
Download — EMSK arvamus: Advertising through influencers and its impact on consumers
The main objective of this initiative is to encourage consumers to use consumer goods for a longer time, by repairing defective goods and by purchasing more second-hand and refurbished goods. It will entail the adoption of a proposal for an amendment of the Sale of Goods Directive and possibly a separate new legislative proposal on the right to repair.
The Commission initiative proposes to adapt rules on products to take account of developments linked to the move towards a circular and digital economy on liability for damage caused by new and refurbished products. It also aims at reducing obstacles to getting compensation for damage in order to ensure that injured parties are equally protected throughout the EU.
Download — EMSK arvamus: Revision of the product liability directive
Most consumers say they want to pay attention to the environmental impact, but complain that only partial information is available. In its opinion, the EESC stresses the need to make every effort to ensure that better information on reparability is made available to consumers and to combat unfair practices.
Download — EMSK arvamus: Empowering the consumer for the green transition
In its opinion, the EESC welcomes the proposal for a Regulation on general product safety (GPSR) as it updates and has the potential to improve the current Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety (GPSD), especially with regard to the challenges and new developments in markets and technology.
In its opinion, the EESC calls for physical and digital completion of the internal market to be on an equal footing and for a high level of consumer protection to be achieved. It calls for greater durability of goods, access to sustainable products, a clean, circular, more climate-friendly economy and efficient use of products, as well as combating of planned obsolescence and the right to repair goods and products.
