Activities of Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ related to 2013/2153(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on consumer protection – protection of consumers in utilities services PDF (167 KB) DOC (80 KB)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the report of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection on a strategy for strengthening the rights of vulnerable consumers (A7-0155/2012),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. having regard to the particular importance of utility services, the need to guarantee consumers free access to such services and the need to lay down binding rules on access to such services for vulnerable consumerenhanced consumer information requirements regarding utility services;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that utility services have common characteristics; urgNotes that basic consumer rights which cover allsome utility services should beare already harmonised at Community level through the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU);
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that consumer protection is effective only if consumers' rights can actually be enforced; emphasises the need to establish a legal framework for European class actioncalls, therefore, on the Member States to fully implement the provisions of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), the Directive on Misleading and Comparative Advertising (2006/114/EC) and the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU); highlights, in this context, the importance of alternative dispute resolution systems as efficient, cost-saving mechanisms for solving conflicts between both consumers and providers of utilities services and therefore calls on Member States to implement the recently agreed Directive on ADR (2013/11/EU) and Regulation on ODR (524/2013/EU), to help better enforce consumer rights;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses thatuggests that the needs of consumers and other representatives of civil society should be involved at all levels in the balanced against the needs of providers when considefrinition,g organisation, provision and assessment of utility services;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises thatSupports the existence of strong, independent consumer organisations is a sine qua non forn facilitating comprehensive consumer protection;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that all consumers, irrespective of their financial circumstances, should be guaranteedhave access to utility services and that, in special arrangements, such as exemption from charges, should be introduced for 'vulnerable consumers'; points out that any consumer may find him/herself in a situation in which he/she needs special protectionfic and defined circumstances, 'vulnerable consumers' may furthermore require special arrangements;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to pay more attention to and invest more in consumer information and education campaigns in the context of utility services that target the right messages at the right consumer segment;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that the liberalisation of energy markets has not systematically led to greater competition and lower prices for consumers and, from consumers' point of view, has made the range ofe need for enhanced consumer information and transparency in the energy market, in particular, to improve services and tariffs available m comparability fore confusingsumers;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Criticises the fact that energy prices do not reflect actual costs and thatRegrets that current energy prices do not necessarily factor in external costs, such asnamely the environmental damage, are not identified and arssociated to a given energy source or production method, which might nevertheless be passed on to society as a whole on the long run; calls for measures to guarantee cost transparency and the enforcement of the polluter-pays principleencourage greater price transparency for consumers in this regard;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes the view that undertakings should be required to publish information about prices and price changes in a readily understandable form and that minimum standards are needed to govern the way accounts are drawn up, calls on the Member States and business to take the appropriate measures to ensure that consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular have access to clear, understandable and comparable information about fees, conditions and means of redress;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes the view that information asymmetry is putting consumers at a disadvantage; calls for the introduction of legal instruments which ensure that consumers receive comprehensive information; notes that technical simplification is essential for consumers and that to this end, the same price components should be present in the offer, the contract and the bill, and the presentation of this data should be aligned; believes that in order to make consumers more proactive in the management of energy consumption, they need to be made aware of ways to control consumption, as well as possibilities for energy savings, and energy efficiency and small-scale production;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes the view that whereSupports the roll out of smart metering ias employed priority must be given to the benefits for customers and data protection and that the relevant costs must not be passed on to consumersof benefit to the economic interests of consumers, so long as individual's consumer rights to refuse a smart meter is maintained;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for legislative measures to guarantee all consumers access toStresses the importance for the development of the Digital Single Market of continuing efforts aimed at providing ubiquitous and high- quality telecommunications services and narrow the digital divide, through the promotion of fixed and mobile internet access and the deployment of next generation infrastructures;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises that the internet must remain open and net-neutral and that the protection of personal data and privacy must have priority, as this is the only way to build trust; recalls that network and information security is the responsibility of all stakeholders, including users at home, service providers and product developers; recommends encouraging cybersecurity-related training and education for both citizens and professionals;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that data portability and interoperability are essential if consumers are to become less dependent on providers and enjoy greater freedom to choose their provider and if innovation is to be fostered; takurges the view that all consumers should be able to switch provider at any time,Commission to take steps to clarify consumer rights, to encourage transparency as regards pricing, billing, information and the scope for comparison, to enhance freedom of charge, without loss of data and with a minimum of formalitieonsumer choice and responsiveness to customer needs, and to protect consumers;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that the Stresses the dynamic nature of the parcel delibveralisation of postal services has not brought the promised benefits for consumers, but has instead destroyed structures which it will be very difficult to re-esty market, with innovative services developing rapidly; highlights in this context that even more available delivery options, better transparency, information and prices are a precondition for increasing consumers' confidence in the delivery market; calls on the Commission to propose the necessary measures to encourage the postal services to improve interoperability and accelerate the roll-out of streamlined processes aimed at reducing costs, increasing the availability and quality of delivery servicesh;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. EmphasiStresses that a comprehensive postal service must bereliability of postal services is crucial and that it is essential to offer efficient systems that guaranteed throughout the Union, including in rural areasat parcels effectively reach the requested destination within a reasonable timeframe;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Emphasises that high-quality, comprehensive and freely accessibleefficient local public transport constitutes a basic service which must also be made available in areas where it is less profitable;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Points out that, as a result of the ageing of the population, efficient and universally accessible public transport services will gain in importance in the future and that they are also essential if the EU2020 climate objectives are to be achieved; calls for the development of the common tools to ensure optimised multimodality in efficient, high-quality public transport services, in order to ensure both the free movement of people and the competitiveness of such services vis-à-vis the use of;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls for a holistic approach to elderly people and the people with limited mobility; believes that the whole public transport chain has to be taken into consideration, including access to public transport's points; wishes to address the need for a coherent focal point system in order to help people with limited mobility;