Steps to improve cross-border co-operation in tackling rogue traders have been supported today by ECR MEPs.

The European Parliament's Internal Market Committee approved a report updating the EU's Consumer Protection Co-operation Regulation, in particular to take account of the new challenges presented by international online transactions.

Under the proposed legislation, a database and information exchange system will provide early warning of cross border issues and the EU will be able to investigate cases Member States deem a  "widespread infringement with an EU dimension".

Slovakian MEP Richard Sulik, the ECR's Shadow Rapporteur for the report, said: "Rules should be respected and today we tackled the cross border co-operation between authorities which I hope will help to enforce existing legislation.

"It seems to me that, for example on issues such as the limitation period for the enforcement of consumer rights, the result goes beyond what is necessary to ensure better cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws, but otherwise it is a balanced text."

UK ECR MEP Vicky Ford, who chairs the committee, said: "Fraudsters don’t stop at the border and this report represents a major step forward for consumers across Europe.

"The proposal will help authorities to tackle scam websites and fake salesmen who target consumers across Europe. It will allow countries to work together cross-border to protect consumers whilst saving time and resources for businesses. 

"One of the particular issues has been scams popping up in one country and remerging in another.  It is important to ensure that authorities can stay one step ahead of the scammers and not the other way around."

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Contact Robert Taylor
robert.taylor@europarl.europa.eu
Mobile +32 498 98 47 60

The ECR was created to take the EU in a new direction, according to the principles of our founding Prague Declaration. It is the third largest group in the European Parliament with 74 MEPs from 18 EU states.

For more information on the ECR, watch our promotional video at http://youtu.be/F5syQt1JuQI or visit our website: www.ecrgroup.eu