You're listening to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on the modernisation

of EU consumer protection rules.

The EU has some of the strongest rules in consumer protection in the world, but recent

cases like the Dieselgate scandal have shown that in practice, it can be difficult to enforce

them. So in April 2018, the European Commission proposed a new deal for consumers to ensure

that all European consumers fully benefit from their rights.

Want to know what's in it for you?

Stay with us.

A fitness check of EU Consumer and Marketing Law and an of the Consumers' Rights Directive in May 2017

revealed that while EU consumers benefit from one of the highest levels of protection in the world,

some things could be improved, and an update to better adjust to the digital economy was pressing.

In 2016, one in five consumers had a problem and wanted to file a complaint,

though in the end, a third of them decided not to do so, mainly because they thought the amount

they could claim was too insignificant, or because they thought it would take too much time.

But although their amounts may be small when taken individually, they can be quite significant

when taken collectively. You bet. As a recent study of six markets, including mobile phone services, clothing, electricity supplies

and loans demonstrates, the estimated detriment to consumers in the EU 28 ranges between

20 and 58 billion euros in one year.

So that's quite a sum.

It certainly is.

So how is the Commission planning to better enforce consumer rights?

With a new deal for consumers.

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