The aims of the programme are to complement, support and monitor national consumer policies, to contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic and legal interests of consumers, as well as their rights to information and education, and to form consumer organisations to safeguard their interests. These aims are pursued through two main objectives: first to ensure a high level of consumer protection through improved evidence, better consultation and better representation of consumer interests, and second to ensure the effective application of consumer protection rules notably through enforcement cooperation, information, education and redress. Each aim should be achieved through a combination of actions and instruments which are specified in the programme.
The first objective is supported by actions relating to:
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Collection, exchange, and analysis of data and information on the development of consumer policy and for the integration of consumer interests in other Community policies, as well as the safety of consumer goods and services;
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Support for scientific advice and risk evaluation, including the tasks of the independent scientific committees established by the Commission and preparation of legislative and other regulatory initiatives, and promotion of co-regulatory and self-regulatory initiatives;
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Financial contributions towards the functioning of European consumer organisations; and
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Capacity building for regional, national and European consumer organisations.
The second objective should be achieved through:
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Improvement of the effective application of Community consumer protection legislation in line with EU better regulation policy;
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Legal and technical expertise, including studies, for the monitoring and assessment of the transposition, implementation and enforcement of consumer protection legislation by Member States. This includes the development and maintenance of easily and publicly accessible databases covering the implementation of Community consumer protection legislation;
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Actions on information, advice and redress; and
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Actions on consumer education.
The programme also sets out eligibility criteria for financial contributions under the actions listed in the programme and the ceiling for the Community contribution to the actions. The Commission adopts an annual work plan for the implementation of the programme setting out the priorities and actions to be undertaken, including the allocation of financial resources for each priority area.
The EEA EFTA States have participated fully in the EU consumer programmes since the EEA Agreement came into force in 1994.
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