Consumer Protection in Central and Eastern Europe and EU Accession
Consumer Protection in Central and Eastern Europe and EU Accession
Author(s): Albrecht RothacherSubject(s): Economy
Published by: Nomos Verlag
Keywords: consumer protection; EU enlargement;
Summary/Abstract: Consumer protection, with its principles of product safety, producer liability and fair competition, forms a core element of EU legislation and is a precondition for a functioning internal market. Hence there is little doubt that the basics of this acquis should be implemented if possible in full on Day One of a candidate country’s accession to the Union. All central and eastern European countries obviously need to enact proper legislation – ideally a comprehensive law on consumer protection – plus the detailed provisions of the acquis. They also need to set up the necessary institutional enforcement through a Consumer Protection Office and its regional branches, equipped and staffed to conduct own-initiative research, to follow up consumer complaints, to operate testing facilities, to offer expert advice, to carry out information dissemination, and to hold a dialogue with the government and the legislature.
Journal: SEER - South-East Europe Review for Labour and Social Affairs
- Issue Year: 1999
- Issue No: 02
- Page Range: 187-190
- Page Count: 4
- Language: English