Activities of Olle SCHMIDT related to 2011/2272(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers PDF (177 KB) DOC (99 KB)
Amendments (22)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
(B) Whereas the single market must ensure, also, a high level of protection for vulnerable consumers and of strengthening their capabilities,consumer protection in the single market should also take into account the specific needs of vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 14 #
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,means those who, for reasons such as age or mental, physical or psychological disability have difficulties in accessing and comprehending relevant consumer information and who therefore require special protection;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
(Ca) Notes in this regard that children should be considered vulnerable consumers until they have reached the judicial age of criminal responsibility;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the strategy for the rights of vulnerable consumers must focus on effectively protecting consumers and preventing vulnerability, irrespective of the instrument usedEU must focus on effectively protecting the rights of all consumers, including vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 31 #
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 measureidentify situations where certain groups or individuals are especially vulnerable, for instance analysing consumer claims;
Amendment 43 #
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 focuses insufficiently on the problem of vulnerability, limitings itself to consumers' economic interest,;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets thatTakes note of 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;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets thatWelcomes the efforts of the European Commission are centred principally oin promoting consumer empowerment; althoughsupports the Commission's concern thatefforts to better inform European consumers be better informed about their options and their rights is laudable, andas all action in this regard contributes to a more efficient and fair internal market,; is concerned that this focus is clearlymay be insufficient to protect vulnerable consumers, who require specific attention;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that many consumers' vulnerability results precisely from their lack of assertiveness andccess to or comprehension of the information they receive or of the options available, or from their lack of awareness of the existing complaint and redress schemes, especially in the case of cross-border consumption, door-to-door sales and online commerce;
Amendment 68 #
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 party, and the authorities and administrations must provide incentives to such involvement;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights 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; notes that, in spite of this, vulnerable consumers may be incapable of readaccessing or assimilatcomprehending the information given to them,;
Amendment 79 #
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 thatmphasises quality requirements and protection measures be emphasised;
Amendment 82 #
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 thatmphasises quality requirements and protection measures be emphasised;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Asks the Member States and the European Commission to devote their efforts to harmonising signage directed at citizens with disabilities, and to promote the provision of information by companies in formats accessible to saidall citizens;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the fact that in international forums, the need to protect consumers through information and regulation of the financial markets has been recognised, the complexity of such markets entailing that in the majority of cases any consumer is vulnerablevulnerable consumers may have particular difficulties;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Deplores thatCalls on the industry to act responsibly when 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;; recognises existing codes of conducts and similar initiatives by the industry; and calls on the actors involved to continue to educate and inform minors about the importance of a balanced dietnutrition and of an active, healthy lifestyle;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. StressNotes that in spite of the existence ofing 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 is exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability, consumers still frequently encounter difficulties when travelling; encourages the European Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to facilitate consumer access to claim procedures and to ensure transparency in fares;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. DeplorNotes 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 primarily 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 productsmay mean that consumers who for various reasons cannot access or use the internet cannot take advantage of the benefits of online commerce and are therefore excluded from a substantial part of the internal market;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. UnderlinWelcomes that the liberalisation of the main supply markets, in general, has not resulted in a general loweriincreased competition and therefore made available a wider range 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 billedoducts and services for consumers; underlines that larger choice for consumers also requires better information;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls onSupports the work by the European Commission and the Member States to consider establishing free-of-charge mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution that can be activated automatically when a vulnerable consumer is involved, as well as for collective actionon alternative dispute resolution and online dispute resolution and, in this context, calls on the Commission and the Member States to take into account vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to collaborate on the adoption of a broad and coherent political and legislative strategy against vulnerability, especially intake account of the specific needs of vulnerable consumers in the adoption of the Consumer Agenda and the Consumer Programme;