Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with the EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Meglena Kuneva, at Stenbock House.
Commissioner
Kuneva is on a study visit to Estonia, to provide an overview of the
consumer protection policy of the European Union and get acquainted
with the local situation.Kuneva acknowledged the economic course of Estonia, at the same time
stressing the constant need to explain consumers their rights. “We
have a lot of common work to do in this area,” said Kuneva. She added
that she is certain of the Estonian Prime Minister’s support. Andrus
Ansip agreed that more attention should be paid to increasing the
awareness of consumers so that they would know their rights and be
better informed of potential dangers. “A high level of
consumer protection is an important means in the successful operation
of the domestic market,” Ansip stressed. In March 2007, the EU
Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 was approved. The main objectives of
this are the increase of the influence and wellbeing of consumers and
the improvement of the protection of consumers against risks and
dangers. The European Commission has launched a new consumer markets
surveillance process. The results of this will be a basis for better
legal regulation and policy shaping. “Estonia is interested in
simplifying the existing European consumer rights and a greater
harmonisation to make the current judicial area clearer and more
efficient, which will increase the assurance of both consumers and
entrepreneurs,” said the Prime Minister. In addition to
consumer protection issues, Commissioner Meglena Kuneva and Prime
Minister Andrus Ansip also discussed the developments related to
Georgia and the relations of the European Union and Russia.
