DAILY NEWS

 

Brussels, 14 March 2025

 

CALENDAR

Calendrier du lundi 17 mars 2025 au dimanche 23 mars 2025

 

18 March

Mr Costas Kadis receives Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); awards the medals for 20 years of service at the European Commission 

Mr Costas Kadis receives representatives of the European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA); receives representatives of the Environmental Justice Foundation; receives Ms Livia Spera, General Secretary of the European Transport Worker's Federation. 

20 March

Mr Costas Kadis in Norway: on official visit. 

21 March

Mr Costas Kadis in Norway: on official visit. 

 

New data shows strong levels of consumer trust, but online threats persist

 

Ahead of tomorrow's World Consumer Rights Day, the Commission has published  the 2025 Consumer Conditions Scoreboard, which shows that 68% of European consumers feel confident about the safety of the products that they buy, with 70% trusting that their consumer rights are respected by traders.  However, data from the Scoreboard also shows that online risks for consumers persist, including scams, fake reviews, and misleading advertising practices.

Commission takes action to protect consumers

The Commission is taking decisive action to address the challenges faced by consumers across the EU. With the new General Product Safety Regulation in place, consumers are now better protected from being exposed to unsafe products sold online and offline. To address risks from goods sold by non-EU online retailers and marketplaces hosting non-EU traders, the Commission adopted the Communication on E-Commerce package earlier this year. The Commission is also preparing a Digital Fairness Act to reinforce the protection of consumers against harmful practices online, in complementarity with the existing EU digital rulebook.

Following the entry into application of the new rules under the Right to Repair Directive and the Empowering consumers for the green transition Directive in 2026, consumers will also benefit from easier repairs, increased product reuse, and clearer information on durability and reparability.

Key findings of the 2025 Scoreboard

  • 70% of consumers agree that retailers and service providers respect consumer rights, while 61% of consumers trust public organisations to protect their rights.
  • Cross-border e-commerce is on the rise, with 35% of consumers purchasing from another EU country and 27% buying from outside the EU in 2024.
  • Online shoppers are over 60% more likely to experience problems with their purchases, compared to those shopping offline.
  • 93% of online shoppers worry over online targeted advertising, including over the collection of personal data, excessive advertising,  and personalisation.
  • 45% of consumers encountered online scams, and many experienced unfair practices, including fake reviews and misleading discounting.
  • Despite a slowing rate of inflation in 2024, and an improvement of consumer sentiment compared to 2022, 38% of consumers expressed concern about their ability to pay their bills, and 35% about affording their preferred food.
  • 74% of consumers noticed instances when packaged goods reduce in size, while 52% observed a decline in quality without a corresponding price drop.
  • Environmental considerations in purchasing decisions fell 13% since 2022, due to considerations linked to the cost of sustainable products and services and mistrust of the reliability of environmental claims.

Next steps

The results of the Scoreboard will now be discussed with Member States, consumer associations and businesses, and will feed into the preparation of forthcoming initiatives such as the Consumer Agenda 2025-2030 and the Digital Fairness Act .

Background

The Consumer Conditions Scoreboard is a biennial report that monitors consumer sentiment across the EU, as well as in Iceland and Norway. It collects data on national consumers conditions, focusing on knowledge and trust, compliance and enforcement and complaints and dispute resolution. The main data source for the Scoreboard is the Consumer Conditions Survey, which assesses consumer attitudes, behaviours and experience in the Single Market, particularly regarding the respect of consumer rights. For the 2025 report, the survey was carried out in November 2024. Where relevant, data from other sources (e.g. Eurostat, Safety Gate) is used in the Scoreboard to give contextual information. 

For more information

Key Consumer Data

Consumer Conditions Scoreboard

Quote(s)

 

 The findings of the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard are clear: the EU must maintain ambitious policies to protect consumers, both online –and offline. We must ensure the proper implementation and enforcement of our legislation, and address gaps to improve digital fairness. In these times of uncertainty, consumer policy can make a tangible difference in people’s lives and help ensure a level playing field for businesses, showing the added value of the EU and contributing to sustainable growth. 

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

 

 

The European Union convenes the 9th international conference in support of Syria

The European Union will convene its 9th international Conference in support of Syria on 17 March, in Brussels. This year's edition comes at a historic moment, following the fall of the Assad regime, where the Syrian people have the chance to re-take control of their destiny and rebuild their country.

High Representative / Vice-President Kaja Kallas, Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, and Commissioner Hadja Lahbib will co-chair the Ministerial event ‘Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition'. This event aims to gather international support for a Syrian-owned, inclusive transition, from assistance to socio-economic recovery. For the first time, Syrian interim authorities have been invited, together with representatives of the United Nations, Syria's neighbouring states and other regional partners.

The Conference comes at a time when the situation in Syria remains fragile, as seen by the recent violence against civilians and attacks on security forces. It will therefore address the developments in the country, the initial steps of the transition and the international community's possible support, as well as the immediate needs of the Syrian people with a focus on socio-economic recovery, whilst continuing to address Syria's unabating humanitarian needs.

The EU has remained steadfast in its commitment to support Syrian people, including through the organisation of the annual Brussels Conference over the past eight years. Since 2011, the EU and EU Member States have mobilised more than €37 billion in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation assistance, supporting Syrians both inside the country and across the region.

The press release announcing the conference is available online.

(For more information: Anouar El Anouni – Tel.: +32 460 79 54 06; Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 460 75 53 11; Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 460 76 22 73)

 

 

The European Commission is committed to personal data protection.  Any personal data is processed in line with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. All personal information processed by the Directorate-General for Communication / European Commission Representations is treated accordingly. If you do not work for a media organisation, you are welcome to contact the EU through Europe Direct in writing or by calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11.

 

 

 

Athanasios ATHANASIOU

Press Officer / Political Reporter

 

European Commission

Representation in Cyprus

EU House, 30  Vyronos Avenue, 1096 Nicosia

Tel: +357 22 81 75 76 Mob: +357 99 363753

Twitter: @aathans