Fair Trade

Towards a sustainable Single Market focused on consumers

Single Market

The European Parliament voted in favour of the report by Greens/EFA MEP David Cormand which is part of the action plan for the Circular Economy, one of the pillars of the European Green Deal. In particular, it calls for the sustainability and reparability of products, reuse and the development of the collaborative economy sector.

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people sign © Brandon Laufenberg — © Brandon Laufenberg

Milestone for consumer protection

Class action lawsuits

This is a milestone for European consumer protection and an example of the power and influence of the EU law. EU-wide class action will give consumers better means to combat adverse commercial practices. This is a tool for the EU and the member states to improve consumer protection.

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Hemicycle Brussels — Photo European Parliament - Architecte : Association des architectes du CIC : Vanden Bossche sprl, C.R.V. s.a., CDG sprl, Studiegroep D. Bontinck

Plenary Flash 23-26 November 2020

Greens/EFA priorities

During this week plenary session, the European Parliament will debate and vote on tackling homelessness rates in the EU, planned obsolescence, LGBTI equality strategy, new industrial strategy, abortion rights in Poland, pharmaceutical strategy, MFF/Recovery Plan, ...

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Anna Cavazzini elected new Chair of IMCO committee

Parliamentary committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee has just voted Greens/EFA MEP Anna Cavazzini as the new Chair, succeeding Petra De Sutter, who moved to the new Belgian government as Deputy Prime Minister.

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Paper work, Office Work, Contract signature — ©scott-graham

Parliament pushes through EU-wide class action in deal on collective redress

Consumer protection

"This directive fills the legal vacuum in the EU consumer legislation. With such new ground breaking instrument European consumers will no longer be left on their own, like in the Volkswagen emission cheating scandal. Empowering consumers and citizens is the way of the future." declared Heidi Hautala, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur on the file in the Legal Affairs Committee

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Africa Strategy must move beyond business as usual

EU/Africa

We regret that the Commission has not taken this opportunity to balance the rights of the private sector with social and environmental duties, which would allow it to become a real player in development. We urge the Commission to play its role as a regulator, in particular with regard to due diligence

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The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise

Quote by Heidi Hautala

The Mercosur trade agreement is a bad compromise and it is comes at the wrong time when there is an increasing demand for sustainable development. The price for the Mercosur agreement will be paid by farmers, the environment and the climate.

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EU must change from a kerosene tax paradise to a global pioneer for climate action

Aviation/CO2 tax

The non-governmental organisation "Transport and Environment" today published a study, kept secret by the European Commission, on the consequences of a kerosene tax on aviation.

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New rules wasted opportunity to tackle dual quality of products

Consumer protection

The European Parliament voted on better enforcement and modernisation of EU consumer protection rules. While there are some improvements on current consumer protection legislation, today's changes are a wasted opportunity to tackle the dual quality of products.

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Product quality/Unfair Commercial Practices Directive

Quote from Julia Reda MEP

Last night, 'trilogue' negotiations between the European Commission, Council and Parliament were concluded on changes to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, part of the new deal for consumers released by the Commission last year, aimed at tackling among others the unfair practice of so-called “dual quality” by companies operating across different Member States.

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Reform of the European Citizens' Initiative is a step forward

Press release from EFA MEP J-M Terricabras (ERC)

Catalan MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras (Greens/EFA) has welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament in favour of reforming the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The vote passed with 535 votes in favour, 90 against and 41 abstentions. Terricabras is spokesperson for the Greens/EFA gro...

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Palm oil

Quote Bas Eickhout

"The battle is not over, the proposal is under consultation for the next four weeks so we, along with civil society and the public, still have time to close these loopholes and clamp down on destructive palm oil entering the EU. Green victories never come without a fight." Bas Eickhout, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the file and leading candidate of the European Green Party in the European elections

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