Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers
Date: 1998-10-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU activity, EU financing, consumer protection, project evaluation, public health

C  390/22

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II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Amended  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  Decision  establishing  a  general
framework  for  community  activities  in  favour  of  consumers (˛)

(98/C  390/08)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(1998)  642  final  -  98/0028(COD)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189a(2)  of  EC  Treaty  on  30  October  1998)

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  C  108,  7.4.1998,  p.  43.

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  THE  COUNCIL
OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  129A  thereof,

Unchanged

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard  to  the  Declaration  by  the  European
Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  of  6  March
1995  on  the  incorporation  of  financial  provisions  into
legislative  acts.

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and
Social  Committee,

Unchanged

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  referred  to  in
Article  189B  of  the  Treaty,

whereas  Community  action  helps  to  ensure  a  high  level
of  protection  of  consumers  and  human  health,

whereas  Community  action  in  favour  of  consumers  helps
to  strengthen  economic  and  social  cohesion,

whereas  consumer  confidence  in  products  and  services  is
essential  to  the  smooth  functioning  of  the 
internal
market,

whereas  this  objective  cannot  be  achieved  effectively
without  the  cooperation  and  participation  of  all  the  insti(cid:220)
tutions  and  parties  concerned,

Unchanged

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

whereas  the  Community  intends  to  give  new  impetus  to
its  action  in  favour  of  consumers  and  their  health  in
order  to  enable  them  to  become  a  driving  and  innovatory
force.

whereas  the  Community  is  committed  to  giving  new
impetus  to  its  action  in  favour  of  consumers  and  their
health  in  order  to  enable  them  to  become  a  driving  and
innovatory  force,

the 

European 

Luxembourg 

Council’s
whereas 
declaration  on  food  safety  recognises  that  everything
must  be  done  to  restore  public  confidence  severely
shaken  by  the  BSE  crisis,  and  whereas  the  general
framework  for  activities 
is
essential  to  achieving  this  aim

in  favour  of  consumers 

whereas  the  Community  needs  to  plan  the  actions
required  to  achieve  the  objective  it  has  set  itself  by
grouping  them  together  in  a  general  framework  that
identifies  the  activities  and  areas  of  activity  which  must
be  tackled  as  a  matter  of  priority,

Unchanged

whereas  this  general  framework  aims  in  particular  to
bring  together  the  initiatives  carried  out  for  the  benefit
of  consumers 
in  order  to  optimise  their  effects  for
consumers,

the  Community  system  of 

whereas 
information  on
domestic  and  leisure  accidents  had  been  introduced  by
the  decision  3092/94/EC  of  the  European  Parliament
and  the  Council  of  7  December  1994(cid:216)(˛)  to  cover  only
the  period  1994(cid:220)1997,

whereas  this  general  framework  must  provide  for  both
initiatives  taken  by  the  Community,  in  compliance  with
the  principle  of  subsidiarity,  and  actions  to  support  the
organisations  which  work  to  defend  consumer  interests
at  Community  or  national  level,

whereas  this  general  framework  for  Community  action
does  not  prejudge  measures  which  may  become
necessary  during 
the
achievement  of  the  objectives  set  out  in  Article  129A  of
the  Treaty,

fixed,  as  regards 

the  period 

whereas  the  initiatives  undertaken  by  the  Community
and  the  actions  to  support  other  private  or  public
initiatives  complement  one  another  and  must  form  part
of  an  integrated  approach,

whereas  the  implementation  of  this  general  framework
it  possible  to  take  better  account  of
should  make 
in 
consumer’s 
the
interests 
the  other  policies  of 
Community,  notably 
in  the  fields  of  public  health,
research  and  transport,

whereas  the  implementation  of  this  general  framework
should  make 
it  possible  to  take  better  account  of
consumer’s  interests  in  all  other  relevant  policies  of  the
Community  and  must  ensure 
the  development  of
consumer  participation  in  the  standardisation  process,

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  L  331,  21.12.1994,  p.  1.

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

initiatives  developed 

whereas  the 
in  this  framework
should  be  complementary  to  the  actions  being  carried
out  in  the  field  of  public  health,  concerning  in  particular
foodstuffs,

Unchanged

whereas  a  harmonised  and  neutral  approach  to  matters
related  to  the  protection  of  consumers  and  their  health  is
indispensable  and  as  the  Community  has  at  its  disposal
the  skills  of  the  Joint  Research  Centre,

whereas  this  framework  is  open  to  the  participation  of
the  associated  countries  of  central  and  eastern  Europe  in
accordance  with  the  European  Agreements  or  their
additional  protocols,  and  also  to  Cyprus  in  accordance
with  conditions 
the
EFTA/EES  countries  on  the  basis  of  additional  appro(cid:220)
priations 
in  the
in  accordance  with  the  rules  fixed 
Agreement  on  the  European  Economic  Space,

to  be  agreed,  as  well  as 

to 

whereas  it  is  necessary  to  draw  up  a  list  of  priority  areas
for  Community  action  in  order  to  help  achieve  maximum
effectiveness  throughout  the  planned  period,

whereas  it  is  also  necessary  to  strengthen  the  bodies  and
organisations  that  are  active  in  the  area  of  consumer
protection  so  that  they  can  be  a  more  effective  driving
force  for  making  consumers  aware  of  the  priorities  set  by
the  Community,

whereas  a  harmonised  and  neutral  approach  to  matters
related  to  the  protection  of  consumers  and  their  health  is
indispensable  and  whereas  this  general  framework  shall
provide  the  necessary  financial  support  to  ensure  the
provision  of  high  quality,  independent  scientific  acvice,
and
globally 
effective  control  and  inspection  methods;  whereas  the
Community  also  has  at  its  disposal  the  skills  of  the  Joint
Research  Centre,

assessment  methods 

recognised 

risk 

Unchanged

whereas  action  under  this  framework  shall  contribute  to
promoting  the  consumer  interest  at  international  level,

whereas  it  is  necessary  to  evaluate  past  achievements  and
draw  up  a  policy  priority  programme  to  implement  this
general  framework  in  order  to  help  achieve  maximum
effectiveness 
the  planned  period;  and
whereas  this  should  include  an  action  plan,

throughout 

whereas  maximum  effectiveness  of  Community  action  is
dependent  on  regular  consolidation,  review  and  updating
of  this  general  framework,

whereas  the  implementation  of  this  general  framework
should  contribute  to  the  transposition  into  national  law
of,  and  monitoring  of  compliance  with,  existing
Community 
consumer
in 
protection,

legislation 

field  of 

the 

whereas  organisations  that  are  active  in  the  area  of
consumer  protection  should  also  be  given  more  oppor(cid:220)
tunity 
the  definition  of
consumer  policy,

to  contribute  actively 

to 

whereas  it  is  necessary  to  ensure  that  the  interests  of
consumers  are  represented  at  Community  level  and  to
provide  significant  support  to  the  European  organisations
which  represent  the  interests  of  consumers  effectively
and  actively

Unchanged

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

whereas  it  is  necessary,  at  the  same  time,  to  support
organisations  which  are  active  at  national  or  regional
level  by  encouraging  them  to  take  part  in  concerted
action  in  the  areas  recognised  as  priorities,

it 

is 

to 

whereas 
the
therefore  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  financial  support  provided  by  the
Community  to  the  bodies  and  organisations  that  are
representative  of  consumer  interests,  out  of  a  constant
concern  for  maximum  transparency  and  for  effectiveness
in  the  use  of  the  funds  allocated  by  the  Community,

set  out 

whereas  it  is  necessary  to  lay  down  selection  criteria  for
the  provision  of  financial  support,

whereas  it  is  necessary  to  establish  effective  methods  for
evaluation  and  monitoring  and  to  make  provision  for
informing  the  target  groups  concerned  in  an  appropriate
and  automatic  way,

whereas  it  is  necessary  to  establish  effective  methods  for
evaluation  and  monitoring  and  to  make  provision  for
informing  the  target  groups  concerned  in  an  appropriate
and  systematic  way,

whereas  immediately  after  ratification,  the  Commission
shall  present  a  proposal  to  adapt  this  general  framework
to  take  into  account  the  extended  scope  for  action  in  the
consumer  protection  field  in  the  Amsterdam  Treaty,

Unchanged

whereas  the  implementation  of  the  activities  provided  for
under  this  general  framework  must  be  evaluated  in  the
light  of  the  experience  gained  in  the  first  three  years,

whereas  this  decision  establishes,  for  the  whole  of  the
planned  duration,  a  financial  allocation  which  constitutes
the  principal  point  of  reference,  within  the  meaning  of
point  1  of  the  Declaration  by  the  European  Parliament,
the  Council  and  the  Commission  of  6  March  1995,  for
the  budgetary  authority 
the  annual  budgetary
procedure.

in 

HAVE  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

CHAPTER  I

General  objectives  and  approach

Article  1

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)This  decision  establishes,  at  Community  level,  a
general 
the
for  activities 
interests  of  consumers  and  providing  them  with  a  high
level  of  protection.

for  promoting 

framework 

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)This  general  framework  of  activities  consists  of
actions  designed  to  help  protect  the  health,  safety  and
economic  interests  of  consumers  and  to  promote  their
right  to  information  and  education  and  to  join  forces  in
order  to  protect  their  interests.

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)This  general  framework  of  activities  shall  be  estab(cid:220)
lished  from  1  January  1999  to  31  December  2003.  The
financial  allocation  for  carrying  out  the  activities  planned
in  this  general  framework  shall  be  114  million  ECU  for
the  whole  period.

Annual  appropriations 
the
budgetary  authority  within  the  limits  of  the  financial
perspectives.

shall  be  authorised  by 

Article  2

Article  2

(a)(cid:217)actions  taken  by  the  Commission  to  support  and
supplement  the  policy  conducted  by  the  Member
States,  and  to  develop,  update  and  monitor  it;

(a)(cid:217)actions  taken  by  the  Commission  to  support  and
supplement  the  policy  conducted  by  the  Member
States,  and  to  develop,  update,  monitor  and  enforce
it,

(b) actions  providing  financial  support  for  the  activities
of  European  consumer  organisations,  under  the  con(cid:220)
ditions  set  out  in  Article  5;

Unchanged

(c) actions  providing 

support 

financial 

to  promote  consumers’ 

specific
projects 
the
in 
Member  States,  notably  the  projects  presented  by
consumer  organisations,  under  the  conditions  set  out
in  Article  6.

for 
interests 

Article  3

The  Commission  shall  ensure  that  there  is  consistency
and  complementarily  between  the  Community  activities
and  projects  under  this  general  framework  and  the  other
Community  programmes  and  initiatives,  and  shall  lay
the  activities
down 
mentioned  in  Article  4.

to  be  applied 

the  priorities 

in 

Article  4

The  actions  mentioned  in  Article  2  shall  concern  the
following  specific  areas  in  particular:

(a)(cid:217)the  health  and  safety  of  consumers;

(b) protecting  the  economic  interests  of  consumers  as

regards  products  and  services;

(c) educating  and 

informing  consumers  about 

their

protection  and  rights;

(d) promotion  and  representation  of  the 

interests  of

consumers.

(e) protecting  the 

legal 
right  to  redress  and  access  to  justice.

interests  of  consumers,  their

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

The  Annex  gives  an  indicative  list  of  the  activities  by
area.

Unchanged

CHAPTER  II

Implementing  arrangements

Article  5

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  financial  support  referred  to 
in  Article  2,
point  b),  may  be  granted  to  European  consumer  organi(cid:220)
sations  which:

-(cid:217)are  non(cid:220)governmental,  not(cid:220)for(cid:220)profit  organisations
whose  main  objectives  are  to  promote  and  protect  the
interests  and  health  of  consumers  and

-(cid:217)have  been  mandated  to  represent  the  interests  of
consumers  at  European  level  by  organisations  that
are  representative  of  the  consumers  of  at  least  half
the  Member  States  of  the  Community  and  that  are
active  at  national  or  regional  level.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  financial  support  referred  to 
in  Article  2,
point  b),  may  be  granted  to  support  the  activities  of
European  consumer  organisations  that  are  planned  in  the
these
annual  programme  of 
activities  relate  to  one  or  more  of  the  areas  mentioned  in
Article  4.

their  activities,  where 

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  conditions  for  granting  financial  support  are
set  out  in  Articles  7(cid:220)9.

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  conditions  for  granting  financial  support  are
set  out  in  Articles  7(cid:220)9.

In  addition,  the  financial  support  may  not,  in  principle,
exceed  50(cid:216)%  of  the  expenditure  involved  in  carrying  out
the  eligible  activities.

In  addition,  the  financial  support  may  not,  in  principle,
exceed  50(cid:216)%  of  the  expenditure  involved  in  carrying  out
the  eligible  activities.

Administrative  costs  related  to  the  eligible  activities  are
taken  into  account.

Article  6

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Any  natural  or 
legal  person  or  association  of
natural  persons  who/which  is  actually  responsible  for  the
implementation  of  the  projects  may  receive  the  financial
support  referred  to  in  Article  2  point  c),  where  the  main
objectives  of  these  projects  are  to  promote  and  protect
the  interests  and  health  of  consumers.

Unchanged

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  financial  support  referred  to  in  Article  2  point
c),  shall  be  granted  on  the  basis  of  the  description  of  the
project,  where  it  relates  to  one  or  more  of  the  areas
mentioned  in  Article  4.

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  conditions  for  granting  financial  support  are
set  out  in  Articles  7(cid:220)9.

In  addition,  the  financial  support  may  not,  in  principle,
exceed 
in
involved 
implementing  the  project(s),  excluding  all  operating

expenditure 

50(cid:216)% 

the 

of 

Unpaid  work  or  donation  in  kind,  if  properly  docu(cid:220)
mented,  may  be  taken  into  account,  up  to  a  level  of
20(cid:216)%  of  total  eligible  costs,  when  assessing  the  organi(cid:220)
sation’s  revenue  and  costs.

Article  7

The  Community  financial  support  referred  to  in  Article  2
points  b)  and  c)  shall  be  granted  to  actions  selected  on
the  basis  of  the  following  criteria  in  particular:

Unchanged

-(cid:217)a  satisfactory  level  of  cost(cid:220)effectiveness;

-(cid:217)an  added  value  ensuring  a  high  and  uniform  level  of

the  representation  of  consumers’  interests;

-(cid:217)a  lasting  multiplier  effect  at  European  level;

-(cid:217)effective  and  balanced  cooperation  between 

the

various  parties  for

-(cid:217)planning  and  carrying  out  activities  and  for  financial

participation;

-(cid:217)the  development  of  lasting  transnational  cooperation,
especially  by  the  exchange  of  experience  to  raise  the
awareness  of  consumers  and  economic  operators  and
by  joint  utilisation  of  their  results;

-(cid:217)the  widest  possible  dissemination  of  the  results  of  the

activities  and  projects  supported;

-(cid:217)the  ability  to  analyse  the  situations  to  be  covered,  the
means  earmarked  for  evaluating  the  activities  and
projects  and  their  suitability  for  best  practice;

CHAPTER  III

Procedures,  evaluation  and  monitoring

Article  8

Journal  of 

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Each  year,  the  Commission  shall  publish  a  note  in
the  European  Communities
the  Official 
describing  the  areas  for  funding  and  setting  out  selection
and  award  criteria  and  the  procedures  for  application
and  approval.

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Each  year,  if  possible  before  the  end  of  July,  the
Commission  shall  publish  a  note  in  the  Official  Journal  of
the  European  Communities  describing 
for
funding  and  setting  out  selection  and  award  criteria  and
the  procedures  for  application  and  approval.

the  areas 

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)Having  assessed  the  proposals,  the  Commission
in
shall  select  the  activities  and  projects  referred  to 
Chapter  II  which  are  to  receive  financial  support.  This
decision  shall  lead  to  the  conclusion  of  a  contract  with
the  recipients  responsible  for  implementation,  concerning
the  rights  and  obligations  of  the  parties.

Unchanged

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)Community  assistance  shall  relate  to  the  actions
which  should  take  place  in  the  year  of  the  financial
contribution  or  in  the  following  year.

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)Community  assistance,  or  the  first  part  thereof,
shall  be  granted  before  the  beginning  of  the  implemen(cid:220)
tation  of  the  project  selected  by  the  Commission.

4.(cid:218)(cid:217)A  list  of  the  recipients  and  of  the  actions  funded
under  this  framework  shall  be  published  each  year,  with
an  indication  of  the  amount  of  the  assistance.

Unchanged

Article  9

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  Commission  shall  ensure  the  monitoring  and
supervision  of  effective  implementation  of  the  activities
financed  by  the  Community.  This  shall  be  done  on  the
basis  of  reports  using  the  procedures  agreed  between  the
Commission  and  the  recipient;  it  shall  include  checks  in
situ  by  means  of  sampling.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)Recipients  shall  submit  a  report  to  the  Commission
for  each  action  within  three  months  of  its  completion.
The  Commission  shall  determine  the  form  and  content
of  this  report.

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)Recipients  of  financial  support  shall  keep  at  the
Commission’s  disposal  all  the  documentary  evidence  of
expenditure  for  a  period  of  five  years  from  the  last
payment  concerning  an  action.

European  Communities  describing  the  areas  for  funding
and  setting  out  the  selection  and  award  criteria  and  the
procedures  for  applications  and  approval.

Article  10

The  Commission  shall  see  to  it  that  the  actions  funded
the  Community  are  evaluated  regularly.  These
by 
evaluations  may  be  carried  out  by  the  Commission  and
by  independent  experts  employed  to  this  end.

Article  11

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  Commission  may  reduce,  suspend  or  recover
financial  assistance  granted  for  an  activity  if  it  detects
irregularities  or  learns  that  the  activity  has,  without  its
approval,  been  significantly  modified  so  that  it  is  incom(cid:220)
patible  with  the  objectives  of  the  agreed  implementing
arrangements.

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ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)If  the  deadlines  are  not  met  or  if  the  state  of
progress  of  an  activity  warrants  only  partial  use  of  the
appropriations  granted,  the  Commission  shall  ask  the
recipient  concerned  to  provide  an  explanation  within  a
given  period  of  time.  If  the  recipient’s  reply  is  not  satis(cid:220)
factory,  the  Commission  may  cancel  the  balance  of
financial  assistance  and  demand  that  the  sums  already
paid  be  refunded  immediately.

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)All  incorrect  payments  shall  be  refunded  to  the
Commission.  Any  sums  not  refunded  in  good  time  may
be  increased  by  default  interest.  The  Commission  shall
determine  the  arrangements  for  the  application  of  this
paragraph.

Article  12

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Each  year,  the  Commission  shall  report  to  the
European  Parliament  and 
the
implementation  of  this  framework.

the  Council  on 

to 

This  report  shall  include  the  results  of  the  evaluation  of
the  actions,  activities  and  projects  carried  out  under  this
framework.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)By  30  June  2002  at  the  latest,  the  Commission  shall
submit  an  evaluation  report  to  the  European  Parliament
and  to  the  Council  on  the  first  three  years  of  implemen(cid:220)
tation  of  activities  under  this  general  framework.

Article  13

This  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  on  1  January  1999.

ANNEX

ANNEX

INDICATIVE  ACTIVITIES  BY  AREA

1.(cid:217)Consumer  health  and  safety

-(cid:217)Actions  undertaken  for  the  preparation  and  elaboration

Unchanged

of  opinions  of  the  Scientific  Committees.

-(cid:217)Expertise  and  inspections  relating  to  controls  in  the  food,

veterinary  and  phytosanitary  sectors.

15.12.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  390/31

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

-(cid:217)Technical  expertise  to  assess  risks  relating  to  products,

notably  for  foodstuffs.

-(cid:217)Making  best  use  of  scientific  and  technical  elements
relating  to  consumer  protection  actions,  notably  through
the  use  of  expertise  of  the  Joint  Research  Centre.

-(cid:217)Measures  relating  to  consumer  products  causing  danger

-(cid:217)Measures  relating 

to  products  and  services  causing

to  consumers.

potential  hazards  and  danger  to  consumers.

-(cid:217)Dissemination  of  information  about  dangerous  products

and  potential  risks.

-(cid:217)Dissemination  of  information  about  products  and  services
and  the  potential  hazards  and  risks  associated  with  them.

2. Protecting  the  economic  interests  of  consumers  as  regards

products  and  services

-(cid:217)Measures  to  improve  co(cid:220)operation  between  the  bodies

Unchanged

participating  in  market  surveillance.

-(cid:217)Measures  to  ensure  the  respect  of  consumer  rights  in  the
supply  of  products  and  services,  including  mechanisms  for
settling  consumer  disputes,  notably  through  pilot  projects
and  setting  up  databases.

-(cid:217)Measures  to  ensure  a  level  playing  field  in  consumers

transactions,

-(cid:217)taking  into  account  the  impact  of  new  technologies,  and

the  development  of  financial  services.

-(cid:217)taking  into  account  the  impact  of  new  technologies,  the
development  of  financial  services  and  the  impact  of  the
Euro.

-(cid:217)Measures  to  promote  the  transposition  into  national  law
and  monitoring  of  compliance  with  existing  Community
legislation  in  the  field  of  consumer  protection.

-(cid:217)Measures  to  make  consumers  more  aware  of  the  possible
benefits  of  the  internal  market  and  to  encourage  them  to
take  more  advantage  of  these  benefits,  particularly  by
means  of  comparative  tests  of  the  prices,  product  range
and  quality  of  goods  and  services  in  the  various  Member
States.

3. Educating  and  informing  consumers

-(cid:217)Improving  information  to  consumers  about  their  rights
and  how  to  enforce  them  and  raising  awarness  of  manu(cid:220)
facturers  and  consumers  about  safety  aspects  of  products.

-(cid:217)Improving  information  to  consumers  about  their  rights
and  responsibilities  and  how  to  enforce  them  and  raising
awareness  about  safety  aspects  of  products  and  services.

-(cid:217)Measures  to  encourage  consumer  access  to  and  partici(cid:220)

pation  in  the  information  society.

-(cid:217)Information 

to  consumers  concerning  protection  of

privacy  and  personal  data.

C  390/32

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

15.12.98

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

-(cid:217)Dissemination  among  producers  and  consumers  of

knowledge  about  product  safety.

-(cid:217)Improvement  of 

information  and  promoting  consumer
awareness  of  sustainable  and  environmentally  sound
patterns  of  consumption.

Unchanged

-(cid:217)Improving  information  to  consumers  about  features  of
through

services 

notably 

and 

specific 
products 
comparative  testing.

-(cid:217)Develop 

the  education  and 

training  of  consumers,

particularly  in  schools.

-(cid:217)The  development  of,  and  support  for,  European  centres
to  cross  border

information  and  advice 

providing 
consumers  in  the  Community.

4. Promotion  and  representation  of  the  interests  of  consumers

-(cid:217)Strengthening  the  representation  of  consumer  interests  at

the  European  and  international  level.

-(cid:217)Supporting  consumer  organisations  in  the  Member  States,

notably  where  their  means  are  limited.

-(cid:217)Promotion  and  coordination  of  consumer  participation  at

Unchanged

the  European  level  in  standardisation.

-(cid:217)Pilot  projects  promoting  sustainable  consumption  models,

notably  those  that  are  environmentally  friendly.

-(cid:217)Pilot  projects  promoting  sustainable  consumption  models,
notably  those  that  contribute  to  choice  and  encourage
behavioural  patterns  that  respect  the  environmental  and
social  impact  of  consumption  and  disposal.

5. Protecting  the  legal  interests  of  consumers

-(cid:217)Improving  common  extra(cid:220)judicial  procedures.

-(cid:217)The  development  of,  and  support  for,  measures  aimed  at

facilitating  access  to  justice  inside  the  courts.

-(cid:217)Measures  to  assess  the  specific  risks  and  potential  benefits
for  consumers  in  the  information  society  including  pilot
projects 
systems
establish 
applicable  to  the  information  society.

cross(cid:220)border 

redress 

to 

-(cid:217)Measures  to  promote  the  protection  of  privacy  and  data

protection.

-(cid:217)The  development  of  an  overall  framework  to  regulate

unfair  marketing  practices.