The Commission describes how the move aims to remedy “the large
divergences in prices of consumer goods between Member States and
the limited volume of cross-border shopping.” Specifically, the
Commission hopes the new directive could adapt well to change, and,
in this way tackle new unfair or misleading practices such as
online advertising and after sales practices.
The proposed legislation would take the place of the existing
misleading advertising Directive which covers “misleading and
deceptive practices” and introduce a broader concept of “fair
commercial practices.”
The Commission is eager to encompass e-commerce and other
consumer protection legislation in the Directive and to establish a
body of over-arching principles. At present, consumer related
e-commerce initiatives are not yet part of the national legal
systems of member states.
