Debate: Empowering consumers for the green transition
Date: TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Didier Reynders
Language: FR

De nombreuses pratiques commerciales trompeuses telles que l’obsolescence précoce, l’écoblanchiment, le manque de transparence et de crédibilité de certains labels de développement durable, ont été identifiés au sein de l’Union européenne au cours des dernières années. Ces pratiques ne sont pas adaptées aux objectifs de transition écologique établis dans le cadre du Pacte vert. Dans ce contexte, la Commission se réjouit de l’accord conclu par les colégislateurs en septembre de l’année dernière sur cette nouvelle directive, et je tiens à féliciter les colégislateurs parce que le texte est maintenant prêt pour son adoption finale par le Parlement. La Commission est convaincue que les nouvelles règles amélioreront la protection des consommateurs et permettront à ceux-ci de faire des choix plus durables, contribuant ainsi à la transition verte. Ces règles garantiront également une égalité des conditions de concurrence pour les entreprises et amélioreront le fonctionnement du marché intérieur. I would like to thank you for the work done, and in particular by the rapporteur, Ms Biljana Borzan, and the IMCO Committee, on this important proposal for consumer protection. I particularly welcome that the co-legislators found an ambitious but balanced agreement to ensure that consumers can more easily contribute to the green transition. Let me highlight a few elements. For example, the new directive will strengthen the credibility and transparency of voluntary sustainability labels, by ensuring that they are based on certification schemes, or established by public authorities. Furthermore, an important novelty is also that companies will no longer be able to claim that their products are ‘climate-neutral’, ‘positive for the climate’, or ‘have a reduced impact on climate’ based on carbon-offsetting projects outside the products’ value chain. Today, we see too often that such claims give the misleading impression to consumers that the consumption of such products has no impact on the environment. I am also pleased that consumers will be better protected against several harmful practices associated to the early obsolescence of goods. For instance, any commercial communication on goods with features introduced to limit their durability will be banned. Lastly, the Commission also welcomes the new rules that will provide better information to consumers at the point of sale, via a new harmonised label on the durability of goods, and a harmonised notice reminding consumers of their legal guarantee rights, thanks to the Parliament’s efforts. This will ensure that consumers will more easily identify which goods are truly durable, and for how long, and will make them more aware of their rights. In conclusion, the Commission strongly believes that the new directive is a major step forward to empower consumers to buy more sustainably, to facilitate enforcement by public authorities, and to create a level playing field for businesses. We believe that – together with other related legislative initiatives, such as the Green Claims proposal, the eco-design regulation, and the proposed directive on the right to repair that we will again discuss in the trilogue at the beginning of February – it will support the necessary changes to implement the EU Green Deal. So, I thank you for your attention, but I thank you first of all for your support.