BETA


2013/2153(INI) Consumer protection - Protection of consumers in utilities services

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead IMCO WEIDENHOLZER Josef (icon: S&D S&D) GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó (icon: PPE PPE), SCHMIDT Olle (icon: ALDE ALDE), HARBOUR Malcolm (icon: ECR ECR), SALVINI Matteo (icon: EFD EFD)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2014/09/25
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2014/04/15
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2014/04/15
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 588 votes to 21, with 68 abstentions, a resolution on consumer protection – protection of consumers in utilities services.

The resolution stressed the need for consumers to have access to affordable and high-quality utility services throughout the EU , given that such services are essential for ensuring social and territorial cohesion while contributing to European economic competitiveness . Access to utility services should be facilitated for all consumers, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

Enhanced consumer information regarding utility services is needed and the Member States should have the necessary flexibility to take vulnerable consumers into account.

Members noted that some aspects of basic consumer rights are covered by Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights and that the common characteristics of utility services are outlined in the relevant sectoral legislation .

Pointing out that consumer protection is effective only if consumers’ rights can be enforced, Parliament called on the Member States to implement fully 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), the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) (2013/11/EU) and Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 on online dispute resolution (ODR).

The Commission and the Member States are called upon 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.

Stressing the fundamental role of customer service on behalf of utility service providers, Members encouraged utility service providers to train their employees accordingly and ensure that all customers have easy access to personalised assistance at all times.

The resolution focused on the four major sectors which in recent years have been liberalised integrated to a large extent into the internal market:

(1) Energy : Parliament believed that an open, transparent and integrated internal energy market is needed by 2014 and called on the Member States properly to transpose, apply and better monitor the third internal energy market package. It pointed out the need for enhanced consumer information, in particular with a view to improving the services offered, and allowing for the comparability and transparency of tariffs , hence achieving non-discriminatory pricing, whilst taking into account the various factors and situations linked to energy and vulnerable consumers.

The resolution regretted that current energy prices do not necessarily factor in external costs , namely the environmental damage associated with a given energy source or production method, which may nevertheless be passed on to society as a whole in the long run. Members called for measures to encourage greater price transparency for consumers in this regard.

Recalling that smart grids allow consumers to observe and adapt their energy consumption, the resolution pointed out that some of the cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted by Member States give no indication of substantial cost savings for consumers. The use of smart meters must remain the choice of the consumer .

(2) Telecommunications : the resolution stressed that the consumer aspect of the digital single market and the electronic communications sector is of utmost importance, and called for all consumers to have high-quality electronic communications services . It also stressed the importance of deploying new infrastructures in order to narrow the digital divide. Parliament:

reiterated their proposals to make it easier for customers to switch electronic communication service providers without additional fees other than the actual switching cost, without loss of data and with a minimum of formalities; supported proposals to promote independent information on pricing, billing and service quality, including data speeds.

(3) Postal services : Parliament stressed that more delivery options and better transparency, information and prices are preconditions for increasing consumers’ confidence in the delivery market.

The Commission noted that Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC, ensures that postal services provide a universal service. The Commission should ensure that this guarantee is fulfilled by the Member States. Postal services operators should be encouraged to improve interoperability and to accelerate the roll-out of streamlined processes aimed at reducing costs, increasing the availability and quality of delivery services.

Members reiterated the suggestions made in Parliament’s recent report on parcel delivery on the need to assist service improvements and reduce costs, in particular to meet the needs of online consumers and retailers in a better way. They welcomed the introduction of flexible delivery and return options and called for further incentives to improve interoperability and the quality of services.

(4) Public transport : Parliament emphasised that consumers with access to efficient local public transport should be targeted, regardless of whether they reside in areas where such service could be less profitable. Members States are invited to take the appropriate action in this respect.

Parliament pointed out that, as a result of an ageing population, efficient public transport services will gain in importance in the future, and that they are also essential if the Europa 2020 climate objectives are to be achieved. It called for: (i) the development of common tools to ensure optimised multimodality in efficient, high-quality public transport services; (ii) a holistic approach with regard to elderly people and people with limited mobility.

Documents
2014/04/15
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2014/03/10
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted an own-initiative report by Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&D, AT) on consumer protection – protection of consumers in utilities services.

The report stressed the need for consumers to have access to affordable and high-quality utility services throughout the EU , given that such services are essential for ensuring social and territorial cohesion while contributing to European economic competitiveness . Access to utility services should be facilitated for all consumers, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

Enhanced consumer information regarding utility services is needed and the Member States should have the necessary flexibility to take vulnerable consumers into account.

Members noted that some aspects of basic consumer rights are covered by Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights and that the common characteristics of utility services are outlined in the relevant sectoral legislation .

The Commission and the Member States are called upon 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.

The report focused on the four major sectors which in recent years have been liberalised integrated to a large extent into the internal market:

Energy : Members believed that an open, transparent and integrated internal energy market is needed by 2014 and called on the Member States properly to transpose, apply and better monitor the third internal energy market package. They pointed out the need for enhanced consumer information, in particular with a view to improving the services offered, and allowing for the comparability and transparency of tariffs , hence achieving non-discriminatory pricing, whilst taking into account the various factors and situations linked to energy and vulnerable consumers.

The report regretted that current energy prices do not necessarily factor in external costs , namely the environmental damage associated with a given energy source or production method, which may nevertheless be passed on to society as a whole in the long run. Members called for measures to encourage greater price transparency for consumers in this regard.

Recalling that smart grids allow consumers to observe and adapt their energy consumption, the report pointed out that some of the cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted by Member States give no indication of substantial cost savings for consumers. The use of smart meters must remain the choice of the consumer .

Telecommunications : the report stressed that the consumer aspect of the digital single market and the electronic communications sector is of utmost importance, and called for all consumers to have high-quality electronic communications services . It also stressed the importance of deploying new infrastructures in order to narrow the digital divide. Members:

reiterated their proposals to make it easier for customers to switch electronic communication service providers without additional fees other than the actual switching cost, without loss of data and with a minimum of formalities; supported proposals to promote independent information on pricing, billing and service quality, including data speeds.

Postal services : the report stressed that more delivery options and better transparency, information and prices are preconditions for increasing consumers’ confidence in the delivery market.

The Commission noted that Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC, ensures that postal services provide a universal service. The Commission should ensure that this guarantee is fulfilled by the Member States. Postal services operators should be encouraged to improve interoperability and to accelerate the roll-out of streamlined processes aimed at reducing costs, increasing the availability and quality of delivery services.

Members reiterated the suggestions made in Parliament’s recent report on parcel delivery on the need to assist service improvements and reduce costs, in particular to meet the needs of online consumers and retailers in a better way. They welcomed the introduction of flexible delivery and return options and called for further incentives to improve interoperability and the quality of services.

Public transport : the report emphasised that consumers with access to efficient local public transport should be targeted, regardless of whether they reside in areas where such service could be less profitable. Members States are invited to take the appropriate action in this respect.

Members pointed out that, as a result of an ageing population, efficient public transport services will gain in importance in the future, and that they are also essential if the Europa 2020 climate objectives are to be achieved. They called for: (i) the development of common tools to ensure optimised multimodality in efficient, high-quality public transport services; (ii) a holistic approach with regard to elderly people and people with limited mobility.

Documents
2014/03/03
   EP - Vote in committee
2013/12/10
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2013/11/07
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2013/09/12
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2013/06/18
   EP - WEIDENHOLZER Josef (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in IMCO

Documents

Votes

A7-0163/2014 - Josef Weidenholzer - Vote unique #

2014/04/15 Outcome: +: 588, 0: 68, -: 21
DE IT FR ES PL GB RO CZ BE BG SE HU PT SK AT LT NL HR IE FI LV DK SI EL LU EE CY MT
Total
96
57
69
47
44
68
29
22
20
15
20
17
16
13
17
11
26
11
11
12
8
10
6
10
6
6
5
4
icon: PPE PPE
234

Czechia PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
2

Malta PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
174

Netherlands S&D

3

Ireland S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
74

Slovakia ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
53

Belgium ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
31

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

Against (1)

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

2

Croatia GUE/NGL

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

1
icon: EFD EFD
27

France EFD

Against (1)

1

Belgium EFD

For (1)

1

Bulgaria EFD

For (1)

1

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

2

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Denmark EFD

1

Greece EFD

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
56

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Belgium Verts/ALE

4

Sweden Verts/ALE

4

Portugal Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

Abstain (2)

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
27

Italy NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Spain NI

1
6

Belgium NI

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary NI

Against (1)

1

Ireland NI

For (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
156 2013/2153(INI)
2013/12/10 IMCO 156 amendments...
source: PE-524.871

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2013-09-12T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle group: ECR name: HARBOUR Malcolm group: GUE/NGL name: HÄNDEL Thomas group: EFD name: SALVINI Matteo responsible: True committee: IMCO date: 2013-06-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: S&D name: WEIDENHOLZER Josef
  • date: 2014-03-03T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle group: ECR name: HARBOUR Malcolm group: GUE/NGL name: HÄNDEL Thomas group: EFD name: SALVINI Matteo responsible: True committee: IMCO date: 2013-06-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: S&D name: WEIDENHOLZER Josef
  • date: 2014-03-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2014-0163&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0163/2014 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2014-04-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=24342&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2014-0342 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0342/2014 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
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  • body: EC dg: Health and Food Safety commissioner: MIMICA Neven
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docs
  • date: 2013-11-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE522.759 title: PE522.759 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2013-12-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE524.871 title: PE524.871 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2014-09-25T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=24342&j=0&l=en title: SP(2014)470 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2013-09-12T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2014-03-03T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2014-03-10T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2014-0163&language=EN title: A7-0163/2014 summary: The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted an own-initiative report by Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&D, AT) on consumer protection – protection of consumers in utilities services. The report stressed the need for consumers to have access to affordable and high-quality utility services throughout the EU , given that such services are essential for ensuring social and territorial cohesion while contributing to European economic competitiveness . Access to utility services should be facilitated for all consumers, irrespective of their financial circumstances. Enhanced consumer information regarding utility services is needed and the Member States should have the necessary flexibility to take vulnerable consumers into account. Members noted that some aspects of basic consumer rights are covered by Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights and that the common characteristics of utility services are outlined in the relevant sectoral legislation . The Commission and the Member States are called upon 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. The report focused on the four major sectors which in recent years have been liberalised integrated to a large extent into the internal market: Energy : Members believed that an open, transparent and integrated internal energy market is needed by 2014 and called on the Member States properly to transpose, apply and better monitor the third internal energy market package. They pointed out the need for enhanced consumer information, in particular with a view to improving the services offered, and allowing for the comparability and transparency of tariffs , hence achieving non-discriminatory pricing, whilst taking into account the various factors and situations linked to energy and vulnerable consumers. The report regretted that current energy prices do not necessarily factor in external costs , namely the environmental damage associated with a given energy source or production method, which may nevertheless be passed on to society as a whole in the long run. Members called for measures to encourage greater price transparency for consumers in this regard. Recalling that smart grids allow consumers to observe and adapt their energy consumption, the report pointed out that some of the cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted by Member States give no indication of substantial cost savings for consumers. The use of smart meters must remain the choice of the consumer . Telecommunications : the report stressed that the consumer aspect of the digital single market and the electronic communications sector is of utmost importance, and called for all consumers to have high-quality electronic communications services . It also stressed the importance of deploying new infrastructures in order to narrow the digital divide. Members: reiterated their proposals to make it easier for customers to switch electronic communication service providers without additional fees other than the actual switching cost, without loss of data and with a minimum of formalities; supported proposals to promote independent information on pricing, billing and service quality, including data speeds. Postal services : the report stressed that more delivery options and better transparency, information and prices are preconditions for increasing consumers’ confidence in the delivery market. The Commission noted that Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC, ensures that postal services provide a universal service. The Commission should ensure that this guarantee is fulfilled by the Member States. Postal services operators should be encouraged to improve interoperability and to accelerate the roll-out of streamlined processes aimed at reducing costs, increasing the availability and quality of delivery services. Members reiterated the suggestions made in Parliament’s recent report on parcel delivery on the need to assist service improvements and reduce costs, in particular to meet the needs of online consumers and retailers in a better way. They welcomed the introduction of flexible delivery and return options and called for further incentives to improve interoperability and the quality of services. Public transport : the report emphasised that consumers with access to efficient local public transport should be targeted, regardless of whether they reside in areas where such service could be less profitable. Members States are invited to take the appropriate action in this respect. Members pointed out that, as a result of an ageing population, efficient public transport services will gain in importance in the future, and that they are also essential if the Europa 2020 climate objectives are to be achieved. They called for: (i) the development of common tools to ensure optimised multimodality in efficient, high-quality public transport services; (ii) a holistic approach with regard to elderly people and people with limited mobility.
  • date: 2014-04-15T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=24342&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2014-04-15T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2014-0342 title: T7-0342/2014 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 588 votes to 21, with 68 abstentions, a resolution on consumer protection – protection of consumers in utilities services. The resolution stressed the need for consumers to have access to affordable and high-quality utility services throughout the EU , given that such services are essential for ensuring social and territorial cohesion while contributing to European economic competitiveness . Access to utility services should be facilitated for all consumers, irrespective of their financial circumstances. Enhanced consumer information regarding utility services is needed and the Member States should have the necessary flexibility to take vulnerable consumers into account. Members noted that some aspects of basic consumer rights are covered by Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights and that the common characteristics of utility services are outlined in the relevant sectoral legislation . Pointing out that consumer protection is effective only if consumers’ rights can be enforced, Parliament called on the Member States to implement fully 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), the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) (2013/11/EU) and Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 on online dispute resolution (ODR). The Commission and the Member States are called upon 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. Stressing the fundamental role of customer service on behalf of utility service providers, Members encouraged utility service providers to train their employees accordingly and ensure that all customers have easy access to personalised assistance at all times. The resolution focused on the four major sectors which in recent years have been liberalised integrated to a large extent into the internal market: (1) Energy : Parliament believed that an open, transparent and integrated internal energy market is needed by 2014 and called on the Member States properly to transpose, apply and better monitor the third internal energy market package. It pointed out the need for enhanced consumer information, in particular with a view to improving the services offered, and allowing for the comparability and transparency of tariffs , hence achieving non-discriminatory pricing, whilst taking into account the various factors and situations linked to energy and vulnerable consumers. The resolution regretted that current energy prices do not necessarily factor in external costs , namely the environmental damage associated with a given energy source or production method, which may nevertheless be passed on to society as a whole in the long run. Members called for measures to encourage greater price transparency for consumers in this regard. Recalling that smart grids allow consumers to observe and adapt their energy consumption, the resolution pointed out that some of the cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted by Member States give no indication of substantial cost savings for consumers. The use of smart meters must remain the choice of the consumer . (2) Telecommunications : the resolution stressed that the consumer aspect of the digital single market and the electronic communications sector is of utmost importance, and called for all consumers to have high-quality electronic communications services . It also stressed the importance of deploying new infrastructures in order to narrow the digital divide. Parliament: reiterated their proposals to make it easier for customers to switch electronic communication service providers without additional fees other than the actual switching cost, without loss of data and with a minimum of formalities; supported proposals to promote independent information on pricing, billing and service quality, including data speeds. (3) Postal services : Parliament stressed that more delivery options and better transparency, information and prices are preconditions for increasing consumers’ confidence in the delivery market. The Commission noted that Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC, ensures that postal services provide a universal service. The Commission should ensure that this guarantee is fulfilled by the Member States. Postal services operators should be encouraged to improve interoperability and to accelerate the roll-out of streamlined processes aimed at reducing costs, increasing the availability and quality of delivery services. Members reiterated the suggestions made in Parliament’s recent report on parcel delivery on the need to assist service improvements and reduce costs, in particular to meet the needs of online consumers and retailers in a better way. They welcomed the introduction of flexible delivery and return options and called for further incentives to improve interoperability and the quality of services. (4) Public transport : Parliament emphasised that consumers with access to efficient local public transport should be targeted, regardless of whether they reside in areas where such service could be less profitable. Members States are invited to take the appropriate action in this respect. Parliament pointed out that, as a result of an ageing population, efficient public transport services will gain in importance in the future, and that they are also essential if the Europa 2020 climate objectives are to be achieved. It called for: (i) the development of common tools to ensure optimised multimodality in efficient, high-quality public transport services; (ii) a holistic approach with regard to elderly people and people with limited mobility.
  • date: 2014-04-15T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm title: Health and Consumers commissioner: MIMICA Neven
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Consumers' economic and legal interests
activities/0/committees
  • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle group: ECR name: HARBOUR Malcolm group: GUE/NGL name: HÄNDEL Thomas group: EFD name: SALVINI Matteo responsible: True committee: IMCO date: 2013-06-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: S&D name: WEIDENHOLZER Josef
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2014-04-15T00:00:00
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  • type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0342/2014
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  • The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted an own-initiative report by Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&D, AT) on consumer protection – protection of consumers in utilities services.

    The report stressed the need for consumers to have access to affordable and high-quality utility services throughout the EU, given that such services are essential for ensuring social and territorial cohesion while contributing to European economic competitiveness. Access to utility services should be facilitated for all consumers, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

    Enhanced consumer information regarding utility services is needed and the Member States should have the necessary flexibility to take vulnerable consumers into account.

    Members noted that some aspects of basic consumer rights are covered by Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights and that the common characteristics of utility services are outlined in the relevant sectoral legislation.

    The Commission and the Member States are called upon 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.

    The report focused on the four major sectors which in recent years have been liberalised integrated to a large extent into the internal market:

    Energy: Members believed that an open, transparent and integrated internal energy market is needed by 2014 and called on the Member States properly to transpose, apply and better monitor the third internal energy market package. They pointed out the need for enhanced consumer information, in particular with a view to improving the services offered, and allowing for the comparability and transparency of tariffs, hence achieving non-discriminatory pricing, whilst taking into account the various factors and situations linked to energy and vulnerable consumers.

    The report regretted that current energy prices do not necessarily factor in external costs, namely the environmental damage associated with a given energy source or production method, which may nevertheless be passed on to society as a whole in the long run. Members called for measures to encourage greater price transparency for consumers in this regard.

    Recalling that smart grids allow consumers to observe and adapt their energy consumption, the report pointed out that some of the cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted by Member States give no indication of substantial cost savings for consumers. The use of smart meters must remain the choice of the consumer.

    Telecommunications: the report stressed that the consumer aspect of the digital single market and the electronic communications sector is of utmost importance, and called for all consumers to have high-quality electronic communications services. It also stressed the importance of deploying new infrastructures in order to narrow the digital divide. Members:

    • reiterated their proposals to make it easier for customers to switch electronic communication service providers without additional fees other than the actual switching cost, without loss of data and with a minimum of formalities;
    • supported proposals to promote independent information on pricing, billing and service quality, including data speeds.

    Postal services: the report stressed that more delivery options and better transparency, information and prices are preconditions for increasing consumers’ confidence in the delivery market.

    The Commission noted that Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC, ensures that postal services provide a universal service. The Commission should ensure that this guarantee is fulfilled by the Member States. Postal services operators should be encouraged to improve interoperability and to accelerate the roll-out of streamlined processes aimed at reducing costs, increasing the availability and quality of delivery services.

    Members reiterated the suggestions made in Parliament’s recent report on parcel delivery on the need to assist service improvements and reduce costs, in particular to meet the needs of online consumers and retailers in a better way. They welcomed the introduction of flexible delivery and return options and called for further incentives to improve interoperability and the quality of services.

    Public transport: the report emphasised that consumers with access to efficient local public transport should be targeted, regardless of whether they reside in areas where such service could be less profitable. Members States are invited to take the appropriate action in this respect.

    Members pointed out that, as a result of an ageing population, efficient public transport services will gain in importance in the future, and that they are also essential if the Europa 2020 climate objectives are to be achieved. They called for: (i) the development of common tools to ensure optimised multimodality in efficient, high-quality public transport services; (ii) a holistic approach with regard to elderly people and people with limited mobility.

activities/3/committees
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: GÁLL-PELCZ Ildikó group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle group: ECR name: HARBOUR Malcolm group: GUE/NGL name: HÄNDEL Thomas group: EFD name: SALVINI Matteo responsible: True committee: IMCO date: 2013-06-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: S&D name: WEIDENHOLZER Josef
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2013-09-12T00:00:00
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  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm title: Health and Consumers commissioner: MIMICA Neven
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2013/2153(INI)
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Consumer protection - Protection of consumers in utilities services
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Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 048
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