Inquiry Line (Signal only)

Live Broadcast

An HTTP error occurred during file retrieval. Error Code: 405

EU plans to give consumer more rights against big companies

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Pocket
WhatsApp

Consumers will be allowed to take collective legal action when wronged

EU consumers will get more powers to challenge big companies in the courts, and a right to clearer information about who they are buying from, under proposals unveiled by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The new package of measures comes on the heels of the Dieselgate scandal, that saw consumers sold cars that emitted up to 40 times more toxic fumes in real-world driving than claimed.

Under the proposals, consumer groups would gain powers to sue large corporations for collective redress on the behalf of those affected by such unfair commercial practices.

  • Read more

Sticking to EU law 'vastly' better than making our own, say businesses

Penalties for firms that break the law would also be increased, with a maximum fine of at least 4 per cent of the trader's annual turnover in any given member state – and national governments allowed to go higher if they want.

British consumers could miss out on the new rights if they are only finalised after the Brexit transition period – though the UK has agreed to implement all new EU rules that come into force before 2021.

“In a globalised world where the big companies have a huge advantage over individual consumers we need to level the odds,” Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality said.

“Representative actions, in the European way, will bring more fairness to consumers, not more business for law firms. And with stronger sanctions linked to the annual turnover of a company, consumer authorities will finally get teeth to punish the cheaters. It cannot be cheap to cheat."

pa-24999692.jpgVW has been rocked by an emissions scandal (PA)

The so-called New Deal For Consumers package would also attempt to bring more transparency to online market places and shopping search engines. The Commission wants such websites to label clearly whether an item is being by a trader or private person – so consumers know whether they are covered by protections.

European Commission first vice-president Timmermans said: “Today's New Deal is about delivering a fairer Single Market that benefits consumers and businesses.

Brexit so far: in pictures

Brexit so far: in pictures

  • 1/22 Brexit campaign

    Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: “We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead.”

    Getty

  • 2/22 Voting day

    A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union.

    AFP/Getty

  • 3/22 Referendum results

    Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it looked likely the UK would leave the European Union.

    AFP/Getty

  • 4/22 Protesting the result

    A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading “I’m not leaving” protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016.

    Getty

  • 5/22 David Cameron resigns

    British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union

    Getty

  • 6/22 Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader

    Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britain’s Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children.

    AFP/Getty

  • 7/22 Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit

    British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of “no deal is better than a bad deal”, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a “tone of trust” between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU.

    Getty

  • 8/22 Triggering of Article 50

    British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017.

    Getty

  • 9/22 Shock snap election

    Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU.

    AFP/Getty

  • 10/22 Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign

    Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign.

    Getty

  • 11/22 Conservatives lose parliamentary majority

    An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government.

    AFP/Getty

  • 12/22 Labour gains

    Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority.

    AFP/Getty

  • 13/22 Brexit negotiations begin

    Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017.

    AFP/Getty

  • 14/22 May speaks in Florence

    British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights.

    AFP/Getty

  • 15/22 EU council summit – insufficient progress

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made.

    AFP/Getty

  • 16/22 DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit

    DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK.

    Getty

  • 17/22 May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill

    Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a “meaningful” vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305.

  • 18/22 EU council summit – sufficient progress

    Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days.

    AFP/Getty

  • 19/22 The game moves to transition

    Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018.

    PA

  • 20/22 Trade deal is what May wants

    French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores.

    AFP/Getty

  • 21/22 Transition period agreed

    The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on March 19, 2018.

    Reuters

  • 22/22 No agreement on Irish border

    The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues.

    AFP/Getty

“We introduce a European collective redress right for when groups of consumers have suffered harm, like we have seen in the recent past, with proper safeguards so there can be no misuse. Consumers will know who they are buying from online, and when sellers have paid to appear in search results.

“The majority of traders who play fair will see burdens lifted. The handful of traders who deliberately abuse European consumers' trust will be sanctioned with tougher fines."

Reuse contentRead the Original Article

Facebook Comments
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Pocket
WhatsApp

Never miss any important news. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Recent News

Follow Radio Biafra on Twitter

Editor's Pick