Regions call for a stronger local voice in consumer policy

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has welcomed the European Commission's 2030 Consumer Agenda as a timely roadmap to strengthen consumer rights and supports businesses in an increasingly digital and sustainability-driven economy. 

In an opinion led by Adam Cizkowski (PL/ECR), Mayor of Halinów, adopted unanimously in the CoR's plenary Session on 1 July, local and regional leaders called for a stronger role for local and regional authorities in delivering consumer protection across Europe.

European citizens face growing challenges in their daily lives and in a complex digital environment, including the rising of cost of living, financial vulnerability, housing, rapid growth of e-commerce and the influx of goods from outside the EU. At the same time, new technologies and online business models are creating risks linked to unfair commercial practices, product safety and consumer vulnerability.

Against these challenges, the CoR underlines that consumer policy remains an essential means of ensuring that EU citizens can make informed choices, while strengthening EU competitiveness and well-functioning markets, encouraging innovation, and supportig sustainable economic growth. It therefore welcomes the 2030 Consumer Agenda proposed by the European Commission as a forward-looking framework for strengthening consumer rights and ensuring fair and transparent markets.

However, local and regional authorities regret that the Agenda fails to acknowledge their important role in implementing consumer protection measures across many Member States. In roughly half of the EU countries, local and regional authorities play a significant role in consumer policy, being directly involved in legislating, implementing or supporting consumer protection measures alongside national governments.

The opinion calls on the European Commission to pursue simplification in a way that reduces unnecessary burdens while maintaining effective consumer protection. Reforms should be proportionate and targeted, delivering tangible benefits for consumers and businesses alike, while ensuring a high level of protection across the EU.

Finally, regions and cities support stronger safeguards against harmful practices such as addictive design, unfair personalisation, misleading influencer marketing, and 'dark patterns' – manipulative and deceptive designs. The opinion maintains a clear principle: what is illegal offline must remain illegal online, ensuring platform accountability while safeguarding a level playing field for European businesses, particularly against unsafe or non‑compliant imports.

Quote:

Rapporteur Adam Cizkowski (PL/ECR), Mayor of Halinów: “Europe needs a consumer policy that protects without overburdening, combining strong safeguards for consumers with real opportunities for businesses. We must ensure fair competition by tackling unsafe imports and unfair practices, while also defending local products and supporting local businesses, for the benefit of both consumers and businesses across the Single Market.”

Background:

• Photos and videos from the Plenary Session.
• Follow the Press service account on X.
• On 19 November 2025, the European Commission adopted the 2030 Consumer Agenda – a new strategic framework for EU consumer policy that sets out concrete priorities and actions for the next five years.

Contact:

Hélène Dressen

Tel: +32 471502795

Helene.dressen@cor.europa.eu