Enunciados de questões e informações de concursos
EU gives customers new international purchasing rights
By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels , 08 Oct 2008
European Union watchdogs have moved to boost confidence in online shopping to allow consumers to take advantage of internet bargains at a time when millions of households are tightening their belts amid the global financial crisis. The European Commission has agreed new legislation to give consumers rights when purchasing goods and services abroad, either when travelling in Europe or shopping over the telephone or online.
EU forecasts value internet commerce as being worth £100 billion in 2008, a critical market that is expected to increase by more than 200 per cent to £227 billion over the next five years. Meglena Kuneva, European Consumer Affairs Commissioner, insisted that, with dark clouds on the economic horizon, new rights could both increase "opportunities available to consumers and the incentives for business to grow". "The dramatic turmoil, sensational events and breathtaking headlines surrounding the current acute financial crisis have brought talks of the end of an era," she said.
"With household budgets under strain and purchasing power at the top of citizens' concerns, it has never been more important for consumers to be able to compare prices and shop around to get the best value on offer. These new rules are designed to strengthen protection and close the loopholes in key areas where consumer trust is being undermined." The proposals, expected to be agreed by EU government over the next year, will guarantee clear price information and details of extra charges, offer protection against late delivery or non-delivery, as well as clarifying rights to refunds, repairs and cooling-off periods when buying or ordering goods abroad.
The Commission is concerned that only about one in four shoppers are currently prepared to buy goods or services online from other EU countries, a situation that is holding back economic growth. Brussels regulators have suggested that big price differences across Europe's frontiers could offer consumers big savings during difficult times and help keep the economy ticking over in the face of a recession. Commission figures show that there could be opportunities for British retailer to sell electronic goods to European consumers. The same Panasonic digital camera sold at £154 in Britain costs £215 in Belgium and £238 in Finland.
Arlene McCarthy, a British Euro-MP and chairwoman of the European Parliament's Consumer Protection Committee, said: "This law must protect consumers whether they are buying an MP3 player or a 3-piece-suite, whether they are buying it over the internet, on the phone or on their doorstep, and whatever country in Europe they are buying it in."
(source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/3159056/EU-to-give-customers-newinternational- purchasing-rights.html)
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