The Rapporteur opened his presentation by stating that many elements need to be taken into account when preparing measures part of consumer policy including European sovereignty, E-commerce, a Roadmap of resources. The financial programme Horizon 2020 needs also to be taken into account as well as health, safety, education, means of redress (including collective redress) and sustainability of development. The Rapporteur also emphasised the importance of highlighting the implication of the current financial crisis regarding both the economic as well as the social context as this affects consumers' confidence. The current climate has yielded precarious labour conditions, job losses, a reduction of public savings and an increase in inequality. Therefore the draft report will need to point out consumers' current marginalisation and assess what role should be played by the Consumer Associations to protect in a more punctual way consumers. The situation of European consumers needs to be viewed also as part of the wider global context where services and good go beyond the EU frontiers. The Rapporteur concluded by saying that it is important to assess the costs of the Consumer Agenda and to discern which implementing measures need to be put in place.
Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP