European Parliament
Ribeiro e Castro (UEN ),
in writing
(PT)
As I stated in my explanation of vote on the report by Mrs Thyssen, Community consumer protection rules have clearly failed to adapt to a rapidly changing market. It is therefore extremely important to provide, essentially, for consumers to be given a simple, coherent, reliable and effective legal framework that can be implemented regardless of the nature of the commercial practice in question.
I also agree with the idea that the Commission should give serious consideration to establishing databases that will enable the exchange of information and the creation of an early-warning system, allowing Member States to undertake coordinated actions when faced with a flagrant breach of consumer rights. The existence of an internal market and within this, various transnational business operators, requires the creation of appropriate mechanisms for protection and transparency.
Lastly, I also believe that following on from the participation of consumers’ associations, a code of conduct should be adopted, a list of unfair practices should be drawn up and in due course a legislative framework adopted that corresponds to the final outcome of the debate, (amongst the models proposed are ‘maximum harmonisation’, ‘minimum harmonisation’, or a model based on a ‘case-by-case approach’). This model, however – it must be stressed – will still have to take due account of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.

