2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B DECISION No 20/2004/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 8 December 2003
establishing a general framework for financing Community actions in support of consumer policy
for the years 2004 to 2007
(Text with EEA relevance)
(OJL5,9.1.2004,p.1)
Amendedby:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►M1Decision No 786/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Councilof21April2004L138 7 30.4.2004
▼B
DECISION No 20/2004/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 8 December 2003
establishing a general framework for financing Community actions
in support of consumer policy for the years 2004 to 2007
(Text with EEA relevance)
THEEUROPEANPARLIAMENTANDTHECOUNCILOFTHE
EUROPEANUNION,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanCommunity,and
inparticularArticle153thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social
Committee(
1),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of
theTreaty(2),
Whereas:
(1)Consumer policy makes a crucial contribution to two of the
Commission's strategic objectives laid down in the Commissioncommunication on the strategic objectives 2000 to 2005‘Shaping the new Europe’(
3), namely promoting a new and
economic social agenda in order to modernise the European
economy and ensuring a better quality of life for Europe's citi-zens.
(2)Theconsumerpolicystrategy2002to2006establishesthreekeyobjectives. These will be implemented through actions includedinarollingprogrammetobereviewedregularlybytheCommis-sion.
(3)The objectives and actions in the consumer policy strategyshould steer the allocation of funds for actions implementedunderthisframework.Inaddition,activitiesintendedtointegrate
consumerinterestsintootherareasofactivityinaccordancewith
Article 153oftheTreaty shouldbegivenhighprioritytogetherwiththethreekeyobjectivesoftheconsumerpolicystrategy.
(4)In line with the consumer policy strategy, consumer policywithin the scope of this framework should cover the safety ofservices and non-food products, and the economic interests ofEU consumers. Actions related to food safety are not coveredbythisframework.
(5)ThegeneralobjectivesoftheEuropeanUnioninclude,accordingto Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, the achievement
ofbalancedandsustainabledevelopment.InlinewiththeJohan-
nesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, the plan ofimplementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Develop-ment and the Cardiff process, actions should be taken in ordertoachievesustainabledevelopment.
(6)This framework should provide for actions by the Community,in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as laid down inArticle5oftheTreaty,tosupportandbuildthecapacityoforga-
nisations and bodies which work to promote consumer interests
atCommunity,nationalorregionallevel.
(7)In addition to the actions contained in this framework, theCommissionshouldalsoensurethatconsumerorganisationsandother relevant non-governmental organisations can contribute to2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—2
(1) OJC234,30.9.2003,p.86.
(2) Opinion of the European Parliament of 24 September 2003 (not yet
publishedintheOfficialJournal)andCouncildecisionof1December2003.
(3) OJC81,21.3.2000,p.1.
▼B
theimplementationoftheconsumerpolicystrategythroughtheir
involvementintheworkoftheEuropeanconsumerconsultativegroupassetupbyCommissionDecision2003/709/EC(
1).
(8)Thisframeworkshouldprovideforactionsjointlyundertakenbythe Commission and one or more Member States to implementtheobjectivesofconsumerpolicy.
(9)It is of general European interest within the meaning of Article108(1)(b)ofCouncilRegulation(EC,Euratom)No1605/2002of
25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities(
2), hereinafter
referred to as ‘the Financial Regulation’, that the health, safetyandeconomicinterestsofconsumers,aswellasconsumerinter-ests in the development of standards for products and services,berepresentedatCommunitylevel.
(10)This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of this frame-work, a financial framework constituting the prime reference,within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional Agree-ment of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, theCouncil and the Commission on budgetary discipline and
improvement of the budgetary procedure(
3), for the budgetary
authorityduringtheannualbudgetaryprocedure.
(11)To improve the effectiveness and impact of the activities ofEuropeanconsumerorganisationsandofconsumerorganisationsrepresenting consumer interests inthedevelopmentofstandardsforproductsandservicesatCommunitylevel,financialcontribu-
tions for eligible organisations may be subject to framework
partnershipagreementsforthedurationofthisframework.
(12)Inordertoimprove administrative efficiency, andthe effective-ness and impact of specific projects, calls for specific projectsshouldbepublishedatleasteverytwoyearsandsupportshould
be provided for up to a maximum of 75 % of the cost of the
eligibleexpensesforimplementingtheprojects.
(13)The Agreement on the European Economic Area (hereinafterreferredtoas‘theEEAAgreement’) providesthatthecountriesof the European Free Trade Association participating in theEuropean Economic Area (hereinafter referred to as ‘EFTA/
EEAcountries’)should, inter alia,strengthenandbroadencoop-
eration within the framework of the Community's activities inthefieldofconsumerprotection.
(14)This general framework should be open to the participation ofassociated countries, in accordance with the conditions laiddown in the respective bilateral agreements establishing the
general principles for their participation in Community
programmes.
(15)In order to increase the value and impact of this framework,continuous monitoring and regular evaluation of the actionsundertaken should be carried out, with a view, where appro-
priate,tomakingnecessaryadjustments.
(16)Themeasuresnecessaryfortheimplementation ofthisDecision
should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for theexercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commis-sion(
4),2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—3
(1) OJL258,10.10.2003,p.35.
(2) OJL248,16.9.2002,p.1.
(3) OJC172,18.6.1999,p.1.AgreementasamendedbyDecision2003/429/EC
oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil(OJL147,14.6.2003,p.25).
(4) OJL184,17.7.1999,p.23.
▼B
HAVEDECIDEDASFOLLOWS:
Article 1
Scope
1. This Decision establishes a general framework for Community
actions in support of consumer policy, hereinafter referred to as ‘theframework’,fortheperiodsetoutinArticle5(1).
2. The actions to be undertaken under this framework shall supple-
menttheactionsundertakenbyandintheMemberStatestoprotectthehealth, safety and economic interests of consumers and to promotetheir right toinformation andeducation andto organise themselves inordertosafeguardtheirinterests.
Article 2
Areas of action
The actions to be undertaken under this framework shall concern the
followingspecificareas:
(a) protection of consumer health and safety with respect to services
andnon-foodproducts;
(b) protectionoftheeconomicandlegalinterestsofconsumers;
(c) promotionofconsumerinformationandeducation;
(d) promotion of the capacity of consumer organisations to contribute
atEuropeanlevel.
Article 3
Objectives of the actions
Theactionstobetakenunderthisframeworkshallhelptoachievethe
followinggeneralobjectives:
(a) ahighcommonlevelofconsumerprotection,inparticularthrough
the establishment of common consumer protection rules and prac-tices and the integration of consumer interests into otherCommunitypolicies;
(b) effective enforcement of consumer protection rules, in particular
throughmarketsurveillance, administrative andenforcement coop-eration, consumer access to information about services and non-food products and consumer access to mechanisms for the resolu-
tionofcomplaintsanddisputesand
(c) proper involvement of consumer organisations in the development
of consumer policy and other Community policies affecting
consumerinterests.
Article 4
Types of action
1. The actions to be taken under this framework are listed in the
Annexbyobjectives.
2. Actions1to8,11to15and19aredirectly implemented bythe
Commission.
3. Actions9and10arejointlyfinancedbytheCommunityandone
or more Member States, or by the Community and the competentauthoritiesofthethirdcountriesparticipatingpursuanttoArticle9.
4. Actions16,17and18benefitfromfinancialcontributionsbythe
Community.2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—4
▼B
Article 5
Funding
1. Thefinancial frameworkforthe implementation ofthisDecision
fortheperiodfrom1January2004to31December2007issetatEUR
81,8millionofwhichEUR60,6millionshallbefortheperioduntil31
December2006.
2. Fortheperiodbeginningon1January2007,theamountproposed
shall be deemed to be confirmed if, for the phase in question, it isconsistent with the financial perspective inforce forthe period begin-
ningon1January2007.
3. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary
authoritywithinthelimitsofthefinancialperspectives.
Article 6
Financial contribution
1. The Community contribution to joint actions 9 and 10 will, in
principle, be 50 %,and in no event exceed 70%, of the total cost of
the action. The Commission shall set out clearly which joint actions
willbeeligibleforafinancialcontributionofmorethan50%.
2. The financial contributions for action 16 shall not exceed 50 %,
oftheexpenditureforcarryingouteligibleactivities.
3. Thefinancialcontributionsforaction17shallnotexceed95%of
theexpenditureforcarryingouteligibleactivities.
4. The renewal of the financial contributions for actions 16 and 17
toeligibleorganisationsthatintheprecedingyearhaveprovedactivelyand effectively to represent consumer interests shall not be subject totheruleofgradualdecrease.
5. The financial contributions for action 18 will, in principle, be
50%,andinnoeventexceed75%,oftheeligibleexpensesforimple-menting the project. The Commission shall set out clearly whichspecific projects will be eligible for a financial contribution of morethan50%.
Article 7
Beneficiaries
1. The financial contributions for joint actions 9 and 10 may be
awarded to a public body or a non-profit-making body designated by
theMemberStateorthecompetentauthorityconcernedandagreedby
theCommission.
2. The financial contributions for action 16 may be awarded to
Europeanconsumerorganisationswhich:
(a) are non-governmental, non-profitmaking, independent ofindustry,
commercialandbusinessorotherconflictinginterests,andhaveas
theirprimaryobjectivesandactivitiesthepromotionandprotectionof the health, safety and economic interests of consumers in theCommunity;
(b) have been mandated to represent the interests of consumers at
Community level by national consumer organisations in at leasthalf of the Member States that are representative, in accordancewith national rules or practice, of consumers and are active at
regionalornationallevel,and
(c) have provided to the Commission satisfactory accounts of their
membership,internalrulesandsourcesoffunding.2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—5
▼M1
▼B
▼B
3. The financial contributions for action 17 may be awarded to
Europeanconsumerorganisationswhich:
(a) are non-governmental, non-profit-making, independent of industry,
commercialandbusinessorotherconflictinginterests,andhaveas
theirprimaryobjectives andactivities torepresentconsumer inter-
estsinthestandardisationprocessatCommunitylevel,and
(b) havebeenmandatedinatleasttwothirdsoftheMemberStatesto
representtheinterestsofconsumersatCommunitylevel:
— by bodies representative, in accordance with national rules or
practice, of national consumer organisations in the MemberStates,or
— in the absence of such bodies, by national consumer organisa-
tions in the Member States that are representative, inaccordance with national rules or practice, of consumers andareactiveatnationallevel.
4. Thefinancial contributions foraction 18maybeawardedtoany
legalpersonorassociationoflegalpersons,includingappropriateinde-
pendent public bodies and regional consumer organisations, that acts
independently of industry and commerce and is actually responsiblefortheimplementationoftheprojects.
Article 8
Exclusions
Applicantsortenderersandcontractorswhoarefoundguiltyofmaking
false declarations, or are found to have seriously failed to meet theircontractual obligations, shall be excluded fromthe award of furthercontractsassetoutinArticle96oftheFinancialRegulation.
Article 9
Participation of third countries
Theframeworkshallbeopentotheparticipationof:
(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions estab-
lishedintheEEAAgreement;
(b) the associated countries, in accordance with the conditions laid
downintherespectivebilateralagreementsestablishingthegeneral
principlesfortheirparticipationinCommunityprogrammes.
Article 10
Consistency and complementarity
1. TheCommissionshallensurethattheactionsimplementedunder
thisframeworkareconsistentwiththeconsumerpolicystrategy.
2. The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and
complementarity between the actions implemented under this frame-
workandotherCommunityprogrammesandinitiatives.
Article 11
Work programme
TheCommissionshalladoptanannualworkprogrammeincluding:
(a) theprioritiesforactionundereachobjective;
(b) the breakdown of the annual budget among the types of action
identifiedinArticle4;
(c) theplannedtimingofthecallsfortenders,thejointactionsandthe
callsforproposals;
(d) in the case of calls for proposals, the selection and award criteria
foractions16,17and18,thecriteriaforfinancialcontributionsofmorethan50%foraction18,andtheindicativeamountavailablefor each of these calls for proposals, in accordance with the rele-vant provisions of the Financial Regulation and taking into2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—6
▼B
accounttotheextentpossibletheneedtosetsimpleadministrative
requirementsinparticularinthecaseofsmallamountsoffinancialcontributionsforspecificprojects.
Article 12
Publication and procedures
1. The Commission shall publish the following in the Official
Journal of the European Union andontheInternetsiteoftheCommis-
sion:
(a) acallforproposalsforactions16and17and
(b) acallforproposalsforaction18describingtheprioritiesforaction
tobeundertaken,atleasteverytwoyears.
2. At an early stage in the evaluation process of applications for
financial contributions, the Commission shall inform the applicants ifthey are noteligible oriftheir application doesnotprovide the infor-
mationthatisnecessarytoverifytheapplication'sconformitywiththe
selectioncriteria.
3. The Commission shall, within three months of the deadline for
the submission of applications, decide on the attribution of financialcontributionsforactions16,17and18.
4. Alistoftherecipientsoffinancialcontributionsandalistofthe
actions funded under this framework shall be published each year on
theInternetsiteoftheCommissionwithindicationoftheamounts.
Article 13
Monitoring and evaluation
1. TheCommissionshallensureeffectiveandregularmonitoringof
the actions undertaken under this framework and shall present to theEuropeanParliamentandtotheCouncilamidtermreportontheimple-mentation of this framework by 31 December 2005. The Commission
shall inform the European Parliament annually if the decision-making
procedure concerning applications for actions 16, 17 and 18 exceedsthethree-monthperiodassetoutinArticle12(3).
2. TheCommissionshallpresenttotheEuropeanParliamentandto
the Council an evaluation report on actions carried out under thisframework before submitting a proposal for its possible renewal, and
inanycaseby31December2007atthelatest.
Article 14
Implementation of measures
1. The Commission shall be responsible for the management and
implementation of this Decision in accordance with the FinancialRegulation.
2. Themeasures providedforinArticle 4(3)and(4)andinArticle
11 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article15(2).
Article 15
Committee procedure
1. TheCommissionshallbeassistedbyaCommittee.2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of
Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions ofArticle8thereof.
3. TheCommitteeshalladoptitsrulesofprocedure.2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—7
▼B
Article 16
Entry into force
ThisDecisionwillenterintoforceonthethirddayafteritspublication
intheOfficial Journal of the European Union .2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—8
▼B
ANNEX
THE ACTIONS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 4 LISTED BY OBJEC-
TIVES
Objective (a) A high common level of consumer protection
Action 1:Scientificadvice,riskanalysisincludingcomparativeassessmentand
assessmentofriskreductionoptionsrelevanttoconsumerhealthand
safetyregardingnon-foodproductsandservices.
Action 2:Preparationoflegislativeandotherregulatoryinitiativesandpromo-
tionofself-regulatoryinitiatives,including, inter alia:
2.1. Comparativeanalysisofmarketsandregulatorysystems
2.2. Legal and technical expertise for policy development on the
safetyofservices
2.3. Technical expertise for the development of standardisation
mandatesforproductsandservices
2.4. Legal and technical expertise for policy development on the
economicinterestsofconsumers
2.5. Workshopswithstakeholdersandexperts.
Action 3:Monitoring and assessment of market developments with an impact
on the economic and other interests of consumers, including, inter
alia, price surveys, inventory and analysis of consumer complaints
andsurveysofchangesinthestructureofmarkets.
Action 4:Thecollectionandexchangeofdataandinformationthatprovidean
evidence base for the development of consumer policy and for the
integration of consumer interests in other EU policies, including,
inter alia, surveys of consumer and business attitudes, collection
andanalysisofstatisticalandotherrelevantdata.
Objective (b): Effective enforcement of consumer protection rules
Action 5:Coordination of surveillance and enforcement actions, including,
inter alia:
5.1. Development of IT tools (e.g. databases, information and
communicationsystems)forenforcementcooperation
5.2. Training, seminars and exchanges of enforcement officials for
jointenforcementactions
5.3. Planninganddevelopmentofjointenforcementactions5.4. Pilotjointenforcementactions.
Action 6:Development of easily and publicly accessible databases covering
the application of and case-law on consumer rights deriving from
Community consumer protection legislation, including the comple-
tionandimprovementofthedatabaseonunfaircontractterms.
Action 7:Monitoring and assessment of the safety of non-food products and
services,including, inter alia:
7.1. Reinforcement and extension of the scope of the RAPEXalert
system,takingdevelopmentsinmarketsurveillanceinformation
exchangeintoaccount
7.2. Technicalanalysisofalertnotifications7.3. Collectionandassessmentofdataontherisksposedbyspecific
consumerproductsandservices
7.4. Development of the consumer product safety network as
providedforinDirective2001/95/EC(
1).
Action 8:Monitoringofthefunctioningandassessmentoftheimpactofalter-
native dispute resolution schemes, in particular of on-line schemes
and their effectiveness in settling cross-border complaints and
disputes,aswellastechnical assistanceforthefurtherdevelopment
oftheEuropeanextrajudicialnetworksystem.2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—9
(1) Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December
2001ongeneralproductsafety(OJL11,15.1.2002,p.4).
▼B
Action 9:(Joint Action) Financial contributions for public or non-profit
bodies constituting Community networks that provide information
and assistance to consumers to help them exercise their rights and
obtain access to appropriate dispute resolution (the European
consumer centres network and the clearing houses of the European
extrajudicialnetwork,undertheconditionssetoutinArticle7(1).
Action 10:(Joint Action) Financial contributions for specific joint surveil-
lance and enforcement actions to improve administrative and
enforcement cooperation on Community consumer protection legis-
lation, including the General Product Safety Directive, and other
actionsinthecontextofadministrativecooperation,underthecondi-
tionssetoutinArticle7(1).
Objective (c): Proper involvement of consumer organisations in EU policies
Action 11:Provisionofspecifictechnicalandlegalexpertisetoconsumerorga-
nisationstosupporttheirparticipationin,andinputinto,consultation
processesonCommunitylegislativeandnon-legislativepolicyinitia-
tives, in relevant policy areas, such as internal market policies,
services of general interest and the 10-year framework programme
on sustainable production and consumption, as well as to support
theircontributiontomarketsurveillance.
Action 12:Representation of the interests of European consumers in interna-
tional forums, including international standardisation bodies and
internationaltradeorganisations.
Action 13:Training for staff members of regional, national and European
consumer organisations and other capacity building actions,
includingtraining coursesinproject development andproject appli-
cation procedures, Internet forumon specific projects, workshops
andmeetingstopromoteprojectpartnership.
Action 14:Information actions about consumer rights conferred by consumer
protection legislation and other Community consumer protection
measures, particularly in the new Member States, in cooperation
withtheirconsumerorganisations.
Action 15:Consumereducation,including theactionstargetedatyoungconsu-
mers,andthedevelopmentofon-lineinteractiveconsumereducation
toolsonconsumerrightsinthe internal market andoncross-border
transactions.
Action 16:Financial contributions to the functioning of European consumer
organisations,undertheconditionssetoutinArticle7(2).
Action 17:Financial contributions to the functioning of European consumer
organisations representing consumerinterests inthe development of
standards for products and services at Community level, under the
conditionssetoutinArticle7(3).
Objectives (a), (b) and (c):
Action 18:Financial contributions for specific projects at Community or
national level in support of consumer policy objectives as defined
in Article 3, under the conditions set out in Article 7(4), including,
amongstothers,financialcontributionsfor:
— specific projects undertaken by consumer organisations and
aiming to accelerate the effective implementation of the acquis
communautaire on consumer protection in the new Member
States,
— specific projects promoting the cross-border exchange of infor-
mationandbestpractice concerningtheintegrationofconsumer
rightsintootherpolicies.
Action 19:Evaluationofactionsundertakenunderthisframework.2004D0020—EN—30.04.2004—001.001—10