Feature: Slings and arrows… or swings and roundabouts?

Whenever Brussels ‘swings’ into action, we seem to lose a little more freedom. It’s heartening, therefore, to convey this month news of a small ‘roundabout’ turn, directed at our Teutonic SP-loving cousins: the EU having written to Germany requiring them to review their ban on internet gambling, as this is not consistent with the European Convention.

More measures on alcohol

But back to slings and arrows. Anybody connected with the alcoholic drinks industry must feel especially besieged these days, and there’s no sign yet of the crossbows being lowered on this front. The European Parliament has now released a draft report on Alcohol Strategy, which calls for more tangible measures targeted at vulnerable groups. Member states will be asked to adopt a set of 14 measures asking for advertising directed at young people to be addressed. As well as restrictions upon the timing of ads for alcoholic beverages, rules will be introduced on sponsorships aimed at young people. There will also be a requirement to highlight the harmful social impact of alcohol, of drinking alcohol while pregnant and drinking during work time. The report will go to Committee in June and Plenary in July. Which sounds ominous.

As an aside, on a more local level, in the Netherlands the Dutch anti-alcohol NGO have called for the implementation of yet-to-be enacted Parliamentary proposals to ban happy hours and special prices. (As in most things, the Scots can claim a lead here, as anyone who has attempted to have one over the eight in Glasgow lately will testify.)

Germany objects to Consumer Aquis

I was mildly amused to discover that the German Advertising Association has objected to Consumer Aquis on the grounds that the consumer protection rules are too detailed and confusing. Consumer Aquis – if I may remind you (Mum) – concerns a Green Paper that was published in February dealing with a complete review of consumer contract law, aiming to attain equivalent rights and remedies for all European citizens. Germany’s ZAW argues that the EU should not regulate on national civil law that has no cross-border implications. Now where have I heard this kind of talk before?

And other news in brief…

Consumer enforcement network launched.

On 28th February, as part of a cross-border cooperation regulation that came into force at the beginning of 2007, the Commission launched a new EU-wide enforcement network to tackle cross border scams (prize draw, international lottery and sweepstake scams) and the systematic abuse of EU consumer protection rules. Can’t argue with that one.

Rome 1 Regulation discussed

Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee discussed the regulation on the law applicable to contractual obligations. The article states the applicable law should be the law of the consumer’s country of residence - MEPs stressed the impossibility for SMEs to know the applicable law in all EU member states. Hear, hear.

The single market

On 13th March the Commission published its “Consumer Policy Strategy for 2007-2013”. It contains over 20 legislative and non-legislative proposals, designed to improve consumer confidence and boost the retail side of the single market. The strategy comprises five main pillars: 1) modern cross-border shopping rights, 2) strong systems for redress and enforcement, 3) safe markets/products, 4) making consumer outcomes the focus of EU policies, and 5) improving information to the consumer through the European Consumer Centre Network. Whew! I’m wondering if that part of the title with the date means they’ll have it ready by 2013?