Activities of María IRIGOYEN PÉREZ related to 2011/2272(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers (short presentation)
Reports (1)
REPORT on a strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers PDF (177 KB) DOC (99 KB)
Amendments (21)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
(B) Whereas the single market must ensure, also, a high level of protection for all consumers with a special focus devoted to vulnerable consumers and ofin order to strengthening their capabilities,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
(C) Whereas vulnerable consumers are a heterogeneous group comprised of persons who are considered as such because of their mental, physical or psychological disability, their age, their credulity or their education, or persons made vulnerable by their social and financial situation who require special protection and a specific strategy on the part of the authorities; whereas any consumer, at some point in his/her life, can become vulnerable because of external factors and interactions with the market,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the diversity of vulnerable situations hinders a uniform approach and has led the legislation as well as the policies in existence up to the present time to address the problem of vulnerability on a case by case basis;. In this context, the future of consumer policy and law should draw on general solutions that are fully based on the consumer's various needs and abilities.
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Asks the Commission and encourages the Member States to maintain constant and close observation of social and consumer behaviour that may place certain groups or individuals in vulnerable situations in order to prevent such behaviour, and to put an end to vulnerability, when it occurs, through specific protection measures;reform of consumer protection to provide protection for all consumers, regardless of ability, and whatever stage of life.
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business- to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market focusesintroduced the inssufficiently on the problem of vulnerability, limiting itself toe of consumer vulnerability focusing on 'undue influence' that could be exerted over consumers whose volition is not fully formed; however, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive only protected consumers' economic interests,
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. RegretsPoints out that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights, which is the most recent instrument devoted to the protection thereof, does not apply to certain sectors where a particular vulnerability exists, and does not contain a specific regulation in regard thereto, beyond a mention in Whereas clause 34;strengthens pre-contractual and contractual information requirements, articulating a stronger right of withdrawal when the provider or seller has failed to fulfil his legal obligation to provide said information, and requiring that it be conveyed in a clear and comprehensible manner; however, notes that the Directive does not apply to certain sensitive sectors as the financial sector or the transportation sector, where a particular vulnerability exists which must be tackled by appropriate and effective means,
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets that the efforts of the European Commission are centred principally on promoting consumer empowerment; although the Commission's concern that European consumers be better informed about their options and their rights is laudable, and all action in this regard contributes to a more efficient internal market, this focus is clearly insufficient to protect consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular, who require specific attention in order to develop a consumer policy for all European consumers;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that many consumers' vulnerability results precisely from their lack of assertiveness and comprehension of the information they receive or of the options available, or from their lack of awareness of the existing complaint and redress schemes, especiallyand that these barriers grow in the case of cross-border consumption and online, including online cross- border commerce;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that, in the case of contractual relations, the consumer frequently is the weaker party in such relations; when said party to said contracts is in a vulnerable situation, providers must be involved in the protection of said partythe consumer, and the authorities and administrations must provide incentives to such involvement;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that, in the case of contractual relations, the consumer frequently is the weaker party in such relations; when said party to said contracts is in a vulnerable situation, providers must be involved in thethe legislator must provide the necessary legal protection of said partythe consumers, and the authorities and administrations must provide incentives to such involvensure that the consumers are protected. It's considered as good business practice as a company to implement systems that contributes to all consumers' capacity to understand and assess an agreement;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Asks the European Commission and the Member States that the regulation of safety standards and conditions for certain products, especially those intended for use by consumers in vulnerable situations, consider not only the foreseen use but also the foreseeable use, and that quality requirements and protection measures be emphasised, notes that the foreseen use often does not address the specific risks that consumers in vulnerable situations might face; calls on the future revision of the General Product Safety Directive to focus on these abovementioned concerns;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Asks the Member States and the European Commission to devote their efforts to harmonismaking signage directed at citizens with disabilities accessible, including through standardization, and to promote the provision of information by companies in formats accessible to said citizens;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Deplores that advertising for food with high fat, salt and sugar content is aimed at children and young people, who increasingly suffer the consequences of sedentariness and obesity; calls on the actors involved to educate and inform minors and their caregivers about the importance of a balanced diet; in this regard it should be analysed in depth if there is a need for stricter rules regarding commercials aimed at children and young people;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Highlights the fact that advertisements for financial investment products often fail to sufficiently explain their underlying risks and overemphasise possible benefits that often fail to materialise, thereby exposing consumers of financial services products to loss of their capital; calls on the European Commission to introduce stricter advertising standards for sophisticated financial products aimed at retail investors who may not have a good understanding of financial risk, including the requirement to explicitly state any losses that the investor may incur.
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which ismight be exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability; encourages the European Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure inter alia transparency in fares, access to information and help;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Deplores that the digitalisation of services and the added cost that the management thereof poses for brick-and- mortar offices and stores may mean that senior consumers, who are the ones primarilyconsumers in situation of vulnerability, who are often affected by the digital divide, cannot take advantage of the benefits of online commerce and are also impacted by the ‘poverty premium’, paying more for the same products; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to boost consumer confidence while overcoming barriers to cross-border e- commerce through the development of a effective policy which pays special attention to the needs of vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines that unfortunately the liberalisation of the main supply markets, in genter al, has not resulted in a general lowering of prices, and has in fact resulted in added difficulty for the majority of citizens in knowing the best price, changing providers and understanding the items billedia the energy sector or the telecommunication sector has in fact resulted in added difficulty for consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular in knowing the fee that adapts best to their needs, changing providers and understanding the items billed; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to take the appropriate measures to ensure that consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular have access to clear, understandable and comparable information about fees, conditions and means of redress, and can easily switch providers;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to consider establishing free-of-chargeffective mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution with as low costs as possible for the complaints that can be activated automatically when a vulnerable consumer is involved, as well as for collective actions. In addition the rules for European collective actions should be designed specifically to assist vulnerable consumers to have their rights respected;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to collaborate in cooperation with the European Parliament on the adoption of a broad and coherent political and legislative strategy against vulnerability, especially in the Consumer Agenda and the Consumer Programme; underlines that the creation of a strategy for strengthening the rights of the most vulnerable consumers, in order to increase their participation in the Single Market, contributes not only to the social inclusion of such consumers and to advancement toward a more just and tolerant society, but also to ensuring a more dynamic, safe and competitive internal market; points out that this task should involve not only the authorities but also businesses and providers in order to facilitate a more transparent contractual balance.