The European Commission has unveiled plans overhaul European Union consumer protection rules in an effort to increase confidence in online shopping and boost cross-border sales, according to wire service reports.
The proposed changes address e-commerce, telemarketing, mail order shopping, door-to-door selling and the travel industry. The aim is to harmonize rules across the 27-nation European Union while giving consumers more rights when shopping across borders.
Only 6% of purchases over the Internet in the EU were for products or services from another country in 2006. This Commission blamed this partly on obstacles created by different rules in each country, the Commission said.
The EU executive office wants consumers to enjoy equal protection in all member states.
Before finalizing the new rules, which are to replace guidelines up to 20 years old, the EC will hold a three-month debate involving industry and consumer groups. EU governments and the European Parliament will then consider them.
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