In order to promote the interests of consumers and to ensure a high level of consumer protection, the Community shall contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic interests of consumers as well as to promoting their right to information, education and representation. Consumer protection requirements shall be taken into account in defining and implementing other Community policies and activities. Action adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or introducing more stringent protective measures. Such measures must be compatible with this Treaty. The Commission shall be notified of them.
Children are also consumers.
Their interests and concerns as consumers should be taken on board effectively in Union legislation. Children are the most vulnerable consumers and with this in mind, we should be arguing that children are referred to specifically in this article. The inclusion of this article in the Treaty, even as it stands, would be a positive step, as it would allow for children's interests and concerns as consumers to be taken into account in the drafting of EU legislation. This would include important issues such as advertising, the Internet and broadcasting. There is little doubt that children are citizens of the European Union, as nationals of Member States.