Informal Videoconference of EU Ministers for Consumer Protection: Focus on digitalisation and sustainability

Source: German presidency of the EU (German presidency) i, published on Sunday, December 6 2020.

On Monday, 7 December, EU ministers for consumer protection will meet via informal videoconference under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU. Germany's Federal Minister of Consumer Protection Christine Lambrecht will chair the meeting.

The New Consumer Agenda, which was presented by the Commission on 13 November 2020 will be discussed at the informal meeting. With this Agenda, the Commission has set out its holistic strategy for the field of consumer policy over the next five years. In addition to measures aimed at tackling the COVID-19 crisis, the Agenda covers the key priority areas of the green transition, the digital transformation, effective enforcement of consumer rights, the need to protect consumers, and international cooperation in the area of consumer protection.

Welcome video of Federal Minister Lambrecht

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The Commissioner for Justice and Consumers, Didier Reynders, will present the New Consumer Agenda; followed by a round table discussion of the Agenda among the ministers. The debate will focus on evaluating the Agenda’s priorities and its 22 proposed action points in light of an increasingly rapid digital transformation as well as the upcoming Digital Services Act package and the horizontal Directive on Artificial Intelligence. Also, the sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda and the experiences gained from the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of consumer policy will be key discussion points.

Info

Livestreams of the opening statement of Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Christine Lambrecht at 8.20 as well as the press conference at 14.00 will be available on the website of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the EU, eu2020.de.

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A sustainable Europe: Consumer protectionInternal link

The German Presidency seeks early involvement of the Council of the European Union in the preparation of a new consumer agenda, which the European Commission intends to present in the second half of 2020.