EU to tear down cross-border Web shopping barriers
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s consumer chief will propose new rules to make it easier and safer for 490 million consumers to shop online in any corner of the 27-nation bloc.
Some 150 million EU citizens turn to websites like Amazon.com and EBay for shopping but only 30 million buy goods and services from another EU state, spending on average 800 euros a head.
“This autumn I will propose new legislation to cut back the current jungle of complex laws. I will table a simplified common set of rules for business to consumer contracts across the EU,” said EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.
She will also start work on EU rules to stamp out unfair commercial practices in online retailing.
Kuneva wants a more consistent approach to rights and practices, from cooling off periods to guarantees.
“A single, simple set of core rights and obligations will make it easier for consumers and business to buy and sell across Europe,” Kuneva said in a speech in London and made available to the media.
The move is the latest step from Brussels to make itself more friendly and relevant to people’s everyday lives, particularly after the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland.
