Consumer Policy: consumers should not front the bill for making products safer.

"In shaping its future consumer policy, the EU must seek not only to increase product safety, but also ensure flexible rules. This is necessary to avoid creating additional burdens for businesses, especially SMEs, which would result in extra costs for citizens." This is the view expressed by EPP Group MEPs in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee Sandra Kalniete, Andreas Schwab and Simon Busuttil in reaction to the Competitiveness Council's Resolution on the Consumer Agenda announced today.

For the EPP Group's Chief Negotiator on this piece of legislation, Sandra Kalniete MEP, the development of the Single Market in order to restore the EU's economic growth is one of the major challenges. "We welcome the European Commission Communication, however, on the path towards promoting the safety of consumers and increased trade, we must not forget about SMEs."

"We do not accept the Commission's position that safer products are not possible without additional costs", Ms Kalniete added. "In the current economic situation, we should not create rules that will require unnecessary bureaucracy and additional tasks for SMEs. I am confident that the Parliament will develop comprehensive guidelines for the European Consumer Agenda which will include both consumer interests and the interests of SMEs. Europeans must use the advantages provided by the Single Market; advantages which will restore Europe's economic growth."

"Increased safety for consumers is not simply based on setting specific standards for goods and services. Instead, it strongly depends on the consumer himself", explained Andreas Schwab MEP, EPP Group Coordinator in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. "We need to ensure that consumers know their rights and hence can make informed and responsible own choices for the best product. The EPP Group supports the Commission in its efforts to enhance consumer knowledge and participation and thereby reward competition", he stated.

Simon Busuttil MEP, Shadow Rapporteur for the Consumer Programme 2014-2020, said that the EPP Group has pushed for stronger consumer empowerment. "We want consumers to have the information to make the right choices, the tools to fully enjoy their rights and we want them to have access to adequate systems of redress whenever their rights are withheld. The EPP Group will continue to push for consumer empowerment as a core pillar of EU consumer policy", he claimed.