Síkela: Market surveillance and law enforcement are essential for consumer protection
Update: 23/09/2022 09:53
Issued by: 23/09/2022, 09:53
Prague – Union ministers responsible for consumer protection will today in Prague at an informal meeting within the framework of the Czech presidency of the Council of the European Union deal mainly with market supervision and the enforceability of consumer rights. Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela (for STAN) told journalists before the session began. He added that the effects of the war in Ukraine on consumers will also be an important aspect.
Considering that, according to Síkela, companies have the opportunity to sell their products and services across markets, for customers to pay in appropriate ways, they can effectively enforce their rights regardless of the location of the company in question. Ministers of EU countries will therefore look for solutions today to support consumer protection and improve cross-border cooperation, he said.
A related topic today will be ensuring there is enough money for regulatory bodies. “Not all countries pay the same attention to it, both legally and financially. The equipment of the supervisory authorities is different in different countries. Of course, we have to make sure that what we deal with at the international level also works,” he said .
In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the energy crisis, according to Síkela, the behavior of consumers and market participants is changing. Customers are exposed to great uncertainties, for example regarding the price development of products and services. “This has a very negative effect for consumers on their lives and companies on their ability to function,” he continued. He added that the goal is aimed at protecting the most vulnerable consumers.
The topic of the working lunch should be the revision of the directive on package travel services, focusing on the difficulties that have arisen in the tourism industry during the coronavirus pandemic. Ministers should address, for example, protection against insolvency.