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Brussels, 29 february 1996
The Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)
must meet the expectations of consumers
With only a few weeks to the opening of the IGC, EURO COOP reminds the Member States and the European institutions that the single market will only be a success if it is accepted by citizens and consumers.
Numerous initiatives have already been adopted in this field at European level and, since Maastricht, consumer policy has been recognised in the Treaty. However, these measures are still too sporadic and consumer confidence in the single market remains weak. It is now necessary to set up a global consumer policy, which really meets the expectations of the consumers and European citizens. It is also time to stop considering the consumer as a passive economic agent, the recipient of common policies, and instead make him an active and autonomous operator. In order to realise this aim, EURO COOP makes the following requests to the IGC :
- To include in the Treaty that the objective of the European Union is to ensure a high level of consumer protection.
- To include in the Treaty that the Union accomplishes its mission by respecting the fundamental rights of consumers.
- To include in the Treaty the fundamental rights of consumers : the right to health and safety protection, the right to a healthy environment, the right to the protection of their economic and legal interests, the right to compensation for damages, the right to information and education and to the representation of their interests.
- To guarantee that, through the Treaty, consumers' interests are taken into account by their integration in the other common policies.
- To clarify the principle of subsidiarity which must not be used to halt the reinforcement of consumer policy at European level.
- To guarantee all consumers access to basic services (telecommunications, postal services, financial services, energy and water distribution, etc.) of good quality at reasonable prices.
- To ensure better transparency of the decision-making process and better access to information.
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