Consumer Programme

Build on the previous programme (2007-2013), Consumer Programme 2014-2020 will focus on four key areas:

• a single market of safe products for the benefit of citizens and as a component of competitive businesses and traders;

• a single market where citizens are well represented by professional consumer organisations whose capacity is built to meet the challenges of today's economic environment;

• a market where citizens are aware and exercise their rights as consumers so that they contribute to the growth of competitive markets, citizens must enjoyaccess to redress mechanisms in case of problems without needing to resort to court procedures which are lengthy and costly for them and the governments;

• a concrete and effective collaboration between national bodies to support the enforcement of consumer rights, support the consumers with advice.

• The programme has four priorities: Safety, Information and education, Rights and redress, and Enforcement (SIRE).

• Safety: to consolidate and enhance product Safety through effective market surveillance throughout the EU;
• Information and education: to improve consumers' education, information and awareness of their rights, to develop the evidence base for consumer policy and to provide support to consumer organisations.
• Rights and redress: to consolidate consumer rights in particular through regulatory action and improving access to redress including alternative dispute resolution.
• Enforcement: to support enforcement of consumer rights by strengthening cooperation between national enforcement bodies and by supporting consumers with advice.

2014-2020

Implementation:
 

An annual programme (which sets out the various budget items for consumer policy to be absorbed on that given year) is established by the Commission every year and then it is submitted to the Consumer Financial Programme Committee (CFPC)* for revision.

While the problems to be tackled by consumer policy are wide ranging, the relatively small size of the Consumer Programme means that actions to be financed under it have to be targeted on areas where intervention at EU level can make a difference and add value. The selected areas for actions are of three kinds:

• Actions corresponding to legal obligations imposed by the Treaty and the existing EU acquis in the field of consumer protection on the EU and Member States
• Actions which are not or could not be undertaken at national level because of their EU-level character
• Actions complementing and enhancing the efficiency of measures undertaken at national level

Supported activities

The programme will finance and maintain the

• RAPEX network: EU rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer products
• CPC Network: network of national enforcement authorities
• ECC-Net: network of European Consumer Centres

Eligible actions

• under objective 1 - safety:
  • • scientific advice and risk analysis relevant to consumer health and safety regarding non-food products and services;
    • coordination of market surveillance and enforcement actions on product safety
    • maintenance and further development of databases on cosmetics;
• under objective 2 – information and education:
  • • building the evidence base for policy-making in areas affecting consumers;
    • support to consumer organisations;
    • enhancing the transparency of consumer markets and consumer information;
    • enhancing consumer education;
• under objective 3 – rights and redress:
  • • preparation by the Commission of consumer protection legislation and other  regulatory initiatives,
    • facilitating access to and monitoring of the functioning and the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms for consumers,
• under objective 4 – enforcement:
  • • coordination of surveillance and enforcement actions with regard to cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protections laws;
    • financial contributions for joint actions with public or non-profit bodies constituting Union networks which provide information and assistance to consumers.

The end beneficiaries of the Programme are European consumers, through the support offered by the Programme to consumer organisations at EU and national level, as well as Member States' national authorities in charge of product safety and enforcement with the overarching objective of improving the situation of consumers throughout the EU.

The Programme will also de facto benefit reputable businesses, as effective consumer policy supports the proper functioning of the Single Market, rewards the most competitive companies and drives out rogue operators.

Empowered consumers are drivers of innovation and consumer policy will therefore contribute to supporting innovative business.

Finally, economic operators will benefit from a level playing field based on clear rules and better coordinated enforcement. In this context, the Programme will contribute to stimulating economic growth.

Legal basis: Regulation (EU) No 254/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on a multiannual consumer programme for the years 2014-20

EUR 188,8 million

The EU contribution can be up to 50% or 70%, depending on the action.

EUR 188,83 million in current prices

Eligibility:
 

The following countries are eligible for support:

• Member States
• EEA countries
• Candidate Countries
• Western Balkan countries
• Third countries covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy

The following organisations are eligible for funding:

• Public bodies
• Non-profit organisations
• Non-governmental, non-profit and independent European consumer organisations
• Consumer protection officials

Specific conditions apply for specific grants, please check the guidelines or the regulation for details.

Funding is available for government entities, public bodies and national and EU level consumer organisations.