Consumer Protection in Central and Eastern Europe and EU Accession Cover Image

Consumer Protection in Central and Eastern Europe and EU Accession
Consumer Protection in Central and Eastern Europe and EU Accession

Author(s): Albrecht Rothacher
Subject(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.

  • Issue Year: 1999
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 187-190
  • Page Count: 4
  • Language: English