92002E3356

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3356/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject: The Commission's Green paper and Follow-up Communication on Consumer Protection

On 7 December 2001, Commissioner Byrne made the statement that the Green Paper on Consumer Protection is designed to form part of the Better Regulation initiative and suggested that the success of the Green Paper is a test case for the governance and better regulation ideas.

Subsequently, on 5 June 2002, the Commission adopted a Communication on Impact Assessment as part of the Better Regulation Package, which defined impact assessment as an integral part of the process of designing policy proposals and making decision-makers and the public aware of the likely impacts.

In view of Commissioner Byrne's statement, could the Commission please confirm that its approach to the Green Paper and Follow-up Communication on EU Consumer Protection is consistent with the principles set out in the Commission's Communication on Impact Assessment?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2002)

The Commission is pleased to confirm that its approach in the Green Paper(1) and follow-up Communication(2) is consistent with the principles set out in the Communication on impact assessment and indeed remains in the vanguard of work on better regulation. The follow-up Communication committed the Commission

to producing an impact assessment report to complement a future proposal for a framework directive on fair commercial practices. The Commission's work programme for 2003 confirms that an extended impact assessment report will be delivered with a proposal in the second quarter of 2003. The Member of the Commission responsible for Health and Consumer Protection also presented the conclusions of surveys and a study on impact assessment to the Competitiveness Council of 14 November 2002. This study, which will form the basis of the impact assessment that will accompany the proposal, will be made available on the website of Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection.

(1) COM(2001) 531 final.

(2) COM(2002) 289 final.