Protection of consumers: injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests

The rapporteur, Mr Verde i Aldea (PSE, E), underlined the importance of the said proposal for a directive, which opened up new possibilities for consumers by introducing mutual recognition for consumer protection associations in each Member State. In this regard, the rapporteur also wanted to see similar organisations at European level being given access to the same legal system and added that it would be appropriate to put in place a set of arrangements for resolving disputes by amicable agreement, for example by means of arbitration. Finally, he called for the third pillar, namely justice and internal security, to be adopted into the Community system so that every citizen, and not just consumers, would be given proper access to the judicial system within the single market. Commissioner Bonino said that she could accept 20 of the 25 amendments tabled by Parliament; this meant that she rejected Amendments Nos 5, 12, 6, 19 and 25 (the last three because the concept of organising consumers at European level could not easily be translated into practice, nor was it compatible with the principle of proportionality).