Consumer Protection is covered by Annex XIX to the EEA Agreement and falls under Subcommittee IV.

Promoting consumers’ rights, prosperity and wellbeing are core values of the European Union. EU consumer actions aim to ensure that the Internal Market is open, fair and transparent, so that consumers can exercise real choice. It also aims for a better understanding of consumers and markets to ensure greater consumer protection regulation and increased participation of civil society stakeholders.

The main issue followed by the group in 2007 was the Green Paper on the Revision of the Consumer Acquis, which was adopted by the Commission on 8 February 2007 (See EEA EFTA Comment on this Green Paper). This review identified the problems of current legislation in the field of consumer protection, such as the sale of consumer goods and guarantees, price indication, injunctions, distance selling, timeshare, unfair contract terms, package travel and doorstep selling. The Commission called all interested parties to express their views on the review, to which the EEA EFTA States responded with a Joint Comment. 

The Working Group is responsible for the new EU Consumer Programme which runs from 2007 to 2013. The Working Group meets twice a year.

See also: Consumer Affairs