On 24 March 2011, the European Parliament approved in plenary session a series of amendments to the draft Directive on Consumer Rights (the "Directive") (See, this Newsletter, Volume 2008, No. 10, p. 4 and Volume 2011, No. 1, p. 5). The amendments aim to strengthen consumer protection. For instance, while the original text granted consumers a withdrawal period of 3 months when a trader fails to inform them of their right to withdraw within 14 days from a distance or off-premises contract, the European Parliament extended that period to 1 year.
The vote on the amendments to the Directive also gave the European Parliament's rapporteurs a mandate to negotiate a compromise text with the EU Council of Ministers and the European Commission. If these parties reach an agreement, the Directive will be put to a final vote in the European Parliament. This final vote may already take place in June or July 2011.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.