Consumer programme 2014-2020

The Council reached an agreement on a partial general approach concerning the EU's consumer programme for the 2014-2020 period.

The European Parliament is expected to vote on its first-reading opinion at a plenary session further into this year.

The new programme will be the successor to the 2007-2013 programme in the field of consumer policy. It aims to ensure a high level of consumer protection, to empower consumers and to place the consumer at the heart of the internal market. 

The programme will contribute:

• to the protection of the health, safety, legal and economic interests of consumers,
• to the promotion of their right to information, education,
• to organise themselves to safeguard their interests.
• It will complement national consumer policies of the member states.

The Commission proposed to allocate EUR 175 million to the consumer programme for the period 2014-2020. The final financial envelope for the implementation of the programme will be decided in the context of the overall EU budget for the next cycle of financial perspectives.