Last March 5th in Toronto, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, and Canada’s Minister for International Trade Maninder Sidhu launched negotiations for an EU-Canada Digital Trade Agreement (DTA). Building on nine years of successful implementation of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), this new deal will upgrade EU-Canada trade by making […]
EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement enters into force
On 1 February, the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement entered into force. This is the EU’s first independent bilateral agreement on digital trade, marking an important step in the growing network of EU digital trade agreements and digital trade chapters in its free trade agreements. The Digital Trade Agreement strengthens trade between the EU and Singapore […]
European Parliament proposes measures to tackle the increase in non-compliant products imported from outside the EU
On Wednesday, Parliament proposed measures to manage the influx and risks associated with cheap, poor-quality products bought on platforms outside the EU. The report, adopted with 619 votes in favour, 26 against and 46 abstentions, identifies ways to ease the pressure on customs and market surveillance authorities, which struggle to monitor and ensure that […]
EU Council and Parliament agree on updated rules to strengthen consumer dispute resolution
The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement to update, simplify and facilitate the existing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework, with the aim of making these procedures more accessible, appealing and better suited to the digital age. ADR refers to out-of-court procedures that help resolve disputes between consumers and traders, typically with […]
Commission and national authorities call on Apple to stop geo-blocking practices on Apple Media Services
Today, following a coordinated investigation at European level, the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities and the European Commission notified Apple of several potentially prohibited geo-blocking practices that the CPC Network has identified on certain Apple Media Services, namely App Store, Apple Arcade, Music, iTunes Store, Books and Podcasts. The network requested Apple […]
Only 1 in 5 influencers consistently disclose their advertising content on social media, says new Commission study
Research by the Commission and consumer protection authorities shows that influencers rarely disclose commercial content. The European Commission and national consumer protection authorities in 22 Member States, Norway and Iceland have published the results of a screening (“sweep”) of influencers’ social media posts. The sweep found that almost all of these influencers (97%) posted commercial […]
European Council adopts legislation making products safer for European consumers
The Council adopted the General Product Safety Regulation, which strengthens safety standards for products sold both online and face-to-face. The rules will strengthen market surveillance of unsafe products and the rights of consumers who have been sold an unsafe product. The adopted Regulation reinforces product safety and consumer protection, and facilitates the repair, return or […]
European Commission detects manipulation practices in 148 of the 399 online stores examined
The European Commission and national consumer protection authorities of 23 Member States, Norway and Iceland (CPC Network), released the results of a screening (“sweep”) of retail websites. This check covered 399 online shops of retail traders selling products ranging from textiles to electronic goods. It also focused on three specific types of manipulative practices that […]
Czech Presidency outlines priorities to EP committees
Ministers are outlining the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings. Czechia holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2022. A first series of hearings took place from 11 to 13 July. A second set of hearings will happen during […]