COUNCIL RESOLUTIONof 23 June 1986concerning the future orientation of the policy of the European Economic Community for the protection and promotion of consumer interests(86/C 167/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the task of the European Economic Community is to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and an accelerated raising of the standard of living; Whereas the improvement of the quality of life is one of the tasks of the Community and as such implies, inter alia, protecting the health, safety and economic interests of consumers; Whereas fulfilment of this task requires a consumer protection and information policy to be implemented at Community level; Whereas the Heads of State and Government, meeting in Paris on 19 and 20 October 1972, confirmed this requirement by calling upon the institutions of the Communities to strengthen and coordinate measures for consumer protection; Whereas in the light of the results obtained in implementing the two Community action programmes adopted in 1975 (1) and 1981 (2) , it is now appropriate to define the objectives and priorities for further Community action in the interest of consumers; Whereas it is desirable that in achieving the internal market, the Community take measures allowing a high level of consumer protection, in particular concerning product quality and safety; Whereas the Commission has forwarded to the Council a communication entitled 'A new impetus for consumer protection policy' setting out the objectives and priorities it envisages in this respect; WELCOMES the submission of the Commission communication, notes its analysis of the main problems encountered in the past, acknowledges the foundations and endorses the objectives of the 'new impetus' programme, notably those concerned with providing consumers with a high level of safety and health protection and an increased ability to benefit from the Community market, both of which will constitute important steps on the road to a 'People's Europe'; APPROVES the objective of taking greater account of consumers' interests in other Community policies, especially those concerned with completion of the internal market, in particular regarding improvements to the quality of products and services, and with agriculture, competition and transport, and invites the Commission to report to the Council on how it intends to achieve this objective; INVITES the Commission, having regard to the work programme contained in its communication, to draw up and submit proposals, in order to enable the Council, where appropriate, to take decisions in due time and to take any necessary action within the period envisaged for the completion of the internal market; CONSIDERS that, to that end and within the overall Community consumer policy objectives, proposals for legislation should focus on those areas where there is a Community dimension. Where there is a need for harmonization at Community-wide level, proposals for such harmonization should be identified with the spirit of the 'new approach' set out in the Council resolution of 7 May 1985; RECALLING the conclusions of the European Council of December 1985, underlines the importance of promoting alternative approaches to regulations whenever they offer effective means of significant progress; ENDORSES the value of consumer education and information in protecting consumers' interests and enabling them to derive maximum benefit from the completion of the internal market; NOTES that the Commission intends to ensure wide consultation of appropriate interests, particularly at the preparatory stage of its proposals. (1) OJ No C 92, 25. 4. 1975, p. 1.

(2) OJ No C 133, 3. 6. 1981, p. 1.