News

On 29 March 2019, the COREPER approved the agreement reached by the Romanian presidency and the European Parliament on the Directive amending the unfair commercial practices directive, the consumer rights directive, the unfair contract terms directive and the price indication directive as part of the New Deal for Consumers.

The text agreed does not introduce essential changes to the above-mentioned directive, but it aims to complete and clarify some of their provisions while reinforcing consumer protections.

Thus, the text provides as follow:

• enhanced harmonisation and streamlining of some of the criteria determining the level of penalties for infringements of EU consumer law;
• right to individual remedies for those harmed by unfair commercial practices;
• enhanced transparency and protection for those involved in online transactions;
• protection of consumers using “free digital services,  especially regarding the use of personal data;
• clear information in case of price reduction;
• removal of the obligation to use outdated means of communication,
• clarifications on the freedom of member states when adopting rules to protect consumers from particular marketing or selling practices.

Finally, the transposition period for Member States will be of 24 months.