From 16th June to 3rd September 2015, the European Commission is consulting EU citizens, businesses and consumer organisations across the European Union on the topic of online purchasing. The objective of this survey is to help further define the obstacle to the development of e-commerce in Europe so as to address them and increase consumer confidence in online commercial transactions.
The Internet is more and more used for purchasing products, accessing entertainment and managing one’s daily life. However, e-commerce within the EU is developing much more at domestic level that at cross-border level for both consumers and retailers. The EU’s Digital Single Market Strategy adopted by the Commission on 6 May 2015 establishes a holistic approach encompassing the most important barriers that currently hinder cross-border e-commerce. One the main problem identified as hindering business and consumers to fully benefit from the Digital Single Market are differing contract rules that apply in cross-border sales within the EU.
The public consultation aims to collect interested parties’ views on the possible ways forward to remove contract law obstacles related to the online purchases of digital content and tangible goods.
