Consumers
The European Union of 27 countries has almost half a billion potential consumers. The Member States have progressively developed measures aimed at safeguarding the specific interests of these consumers who play a vital economic and political role in society. Starting in the mid-1970s, the EU has endeavoured to harmonise these national measures in order to guarantee European citizens the same high level of protection throughout the single market. The European policy in favour of consumers aims to safeguard the health, safety and interests of consumers, as set out in Articles 153 and 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, by promoting openness, fairness and transparency in the internal market.
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Consumer information
Information systems, Misleading advertisments and commercial practices -
Consumer safety
Consumer health, Product safety, Safety of services, Quality of goods and services -
Consumers: enlargement
Enlargement, Candidate countries -
Consumers: general framework and priorities
Services of general interest, Actions and strategic programmes -
Product labelling and packaging
Labelling of foodstuffs, Food packaging and contents, Non-food product labelling -
Protection of consumers' economic and legal interests
Consumer representation, Legal redress and the settlement of disputes, eCommerce, Contracts, Transport, Financial services
See also
- Activities of the European Union: Consumers.
- Further information: European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General.