IMCO meeting on EU Commission's Digital Fairness Fitness Check

Proceedings of the IMCO Committee meeting focused on the European Commission's Digital Fairness Fitness Check of EU consumer law.

Digital Fairness Act

European Digital Policy Institute

MEPs:
Laura BALLARÍN CEREZA
Kamila GASIUK-PIHOWICZ
Dóra DÁVID 
Sandro GOZI 
Zala TOMAŠIČ

Commission:
Isabel Perignon - Director for Consumers, DGJust
Maria-Myrto KANELLOPOULOU - Head of Consumer Law Unit in DGJust

The meeting delves into the assessment of existing EU consumer laws in the digital era, evaluating their effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, EU added value, and relevance. Key representatives from the European Commission, including Miss Isabel Perignon and Maria-Myrto KANELLOPOULOU from DGJust, provide insights into the findings and future regulations aimed at enhancing digital fairness and consumer protection.

Key Topics Covered:
- Digital Fairness Fitness Check: Examination of three pivotal directives—the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, the Consumer Rights Directive, and the Unfair Contract Terms Directive—and their interaction with the new EU digital rulebook, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

- Main Findings:
- EU consumer laws remain essential but only partially meet their objectives in the digital single market.
- Significant consumer detriment estimated at €7.9 billion annually due to ineffective enforcement and legal ambiguities.
- Challenges faced by consumers online, such as dark patterns, addictive designs, unfair personalization, and difficulties in cancelling digital contracts.

- Proposed Actions:
- Strengthening enforcement mechanisms to address fragmented implementation across Member States.
- Introducing specific regulations to curb harmful digital practices and enhance consumer trust.
- Facilitating coordinated efforts within the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network to tackle cross-border issues effectively.
- Simplifying regulatory frameworks without compromising consumer protection or increasing administrative burdens on businesses.

Expert Exchange:
The session includes a robust exchange between Commission representatives and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), addressing critical questions on enhancing regulations, combating addictive design patterns, safeguarding minors, and ensuring fair competition among digital platforms.

Next Steps:
The Commission outlines forthcoming actions, including public consultations and impact assessments, to further refine and implement the Digital Fairness Act. Emphasis is placed on collaborative efforts with Member States to ensure consistent application and enforcement of EU consumer laws.

Conclusion:
The meeting underscores the necessity of evolving European Union consumer protection laws to keep pace with digital advancements, ensuring that consumer rights are robustly safeguarded in the ever-expanding digital marketplace.

Uploaded by James Tamim, EU Digital Policy analyst.

© European Union, 2024