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Unfair Contract Terms Directive, link , Unfair Contract Terms Directive, RECITALS , Unfair Contract Terms Directive, Article 1 , Unfair Contract Terms Directive, ANNEX I

Volitve 2022: Nič o potrošnikih brez potrošnikov

Zveza potrošnikov Slovenije

The Slovenian Consumers' Association emphasizes that Slovenia does not have a strategy or national consumer protection program since 2017, and the new Consumer Protection Act has been "in preparation" for more than a decade. Subordination of a consumer protection policy in the interests of the economy is an additional obstacle to the effective transposition of EU legislation in Slovenia. Although the European Commission in the New Consumer Agenda calls on Member States to strengthen cooperation between consumer organizations and supervisory institutions in verifying the effectiveness of consumer policies, in preparing and implementing programs to strengthen competencies and raise consumer awareness, this has not been the case in Slovenia for a long time. In addition, the European Union has in the past generated comprehensive legislation in the field of consumer rights, with the aim of ensuring that consumers have equal rights throughout the EU. It is the task of the Member States to effectively transpose this legislation to the national level. This is (too) often a complication, and the result is legislation that cannot be effectively implemented and consequently does not work for the benefit of consumers.

The Slovenian Consumers' Association also highlighted that the financial literacy of Slovenes is at a worryingly low level. As a result, many Slovenes are "easy prey" for commercialists of financial institutions, to whom they sell financial products unsuitable for them. The examples are the following: the sale of subordinated bonds of Slovenian banks at bank counters and loans in Swiss francs, which caused a lot of reviews for consumers as well as banks and courts.

New Consumer Agenda: European Commission to empower consumers to

become the driver of transition

Brussels, 13 November 2020

Today, the European Commission launched the New Consumer Agenda to empower European

consumers to play an active role in the green and digital transitions. The Agenda also addresses how

to increase consumer protection and resilience during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, which

brought significant challenges affecting the daily lives of consumers. More concretely, the Agenda

puts forward priorities and key action points to be taken in the next 5 years together with Member

States at European and national levels. This will, among other things, include a new legal proposal

aiming to provide better information on sustainability to consumers, adapting existing legislation to

the digital transformation as well as an action plan on product safety with China.

Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, said: “We want to empower consumers

to play their role in the green and digital transitions. At the same time we must ensure that our rules

to protect consumer rights remain up to speed with today's digital reality – especially through

vigorous enforcement and increased responsibility of online platforms.”

Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, said: “European consumers are at the core of a global

change. Their actions can make a significant difference. Consumers need to be empowered to make

sustainable choices and be reassured that their* rights will be protected in all circumstances. The

new Agenda introduces measures that will promote a fair digital and green society, taking into

account that consumer behaviour transcends borders of individual Member States.”

Consumer rights in COVID-19 crisis

Whether online scams or cancelled travel arrangements, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many

areas of consumers' lives. The Commission will continue to tackle consumer scams, in cooperation

with the Consumer Protection Cooperation network and in dialogue with the platforms and all

relevant actors. In addition, the Commission will continue to ensure the protection of travellers and

passengers EU rights in case of cancelled trips*. The Commission will analyse the longer-term impact

of COVID-19 on the consumption patterns of Europeans, which will serve as a basis for future policy

initiatives.

Empowering consumers and ensuring better protection

The New Consumer Agenda presents a vision for EU consumer policy from 2020 to 2025 focusing on

five key priority areas:

1. Green transition - The Commission aims to ensure that sustainable products are available to

consumers on the EU market and that consumers have better information to be able to make an

informed choice. Next year, the Commission will present a proposal to equip consumers with

better information on the sustainability of products and to fight practices, such as greenwashing

or early obsolescence. The Commission will also promote repair and encourage more sustainable

and “circular” products. The green transition cannot happen without companies - the

Commission is determined to work with economic operators to encourage their pledges in

support of sustainable consumption, beyond what is required by law.

2. Digital transformation - The digital transformation is radically changing consumers' lives

offering new opportunities but also presenting them with challenges. The Commission aims to

tackle online commercial practices that disregard consumers' right to make an informed choice,

abuse their behavioural biases or distort their decision-making processes, such as dark patterns

and hidden advertising. In addition, consumers' interests need to be duly taken into account

when setting rules governing the digital economy and requirements for Artificial Intelligence

(AI). To adapt current rules to the ongoing digitalisation and the increase of connected products,

the Commission will also review the directive related to product safety. As there is a need to

reinforce consumer protection regarding digitalisation of retail financial services, the directives

for consumer credit and marketing of financial services will be reviewed.