Press releases

A European Parliament committee has today voted to give consumers greater rights in tomorrow’s energy market. The energy (ITRE) committee was voting on Commission proposals to reform the electricity market out to 2030.

Member States would be obliged to freeze current minimum standards around guarantee rights, if an EU Parliament committee vote on Thursday 22 February goes as expected. As a result, they would no longer be able to give better guarantee rights for goods to consumers, following pressure from MEPs from liberal and conservative parties.

Facebook, Twitter and Google+ have made changes to their terms of service in an effort to comply with EU consumer protection rules, following a joint action of national consumer authorities. However, Facebook and Twitter have complied with the changes required.

MEPs will vote today to make it easier for consumers to buy from, or access, a website based in another EU country. Through so-called geo-blocking practices traders often prevent consumers of other EU countries purchasing products from their online shops. The new measure will enter into force later this year, forbidding discrimination of consumers based on their nationality or place of residence.