Consumers/marketing

Our work in this area covers EU consumer protection legislation and policy (consumer rights, redress, alternative dispute legislation, litigation, enforcement and digital fairness), as well as marketing topics (commercial practices, and environmental claims communication/advertisement). We seek to promote a sound and balanced consumer policy and strong consumer dialogue.

To allow companies to perform their multifaced role in society and given that contemporary consumers are becoming more informed, and well-connected, it is essential to improve the legal environment in which companies operate. This environment should be clear and stable to empower companies to support investments needed to meet the green and digital transition goals. The focus of the EU Consumer Agenda for the next 5 years should be on competitiveness and better enforcement, instead of further regulation.

This means: (1) prioritising a public enforcement approach led by authorities and promoting alternative dispute resolution; (2) applying the same rules equally to all actors operating in the EU, including those established outside the EU that offer products and services to consumers across the Union, to ensure fair competition and a level playing field; (3) introducing regulation of Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF) at EU level and monitoring mass and abusive litigation trends in the EU; (4) ensuring any new rules on environmental claims enable companies, instead of deter (aka green hushing), to highlight their contribution to sustainable consumption.