Please find below the descriptions of the workshops to be held during the European Consumer Summit 2024.
Read here the Session topics overview.
Hub 1: Socio-economic dimension and inclusion
At the Consumer Summit we will discuss what consumer policy can do to help consumers overcome the socio-economic challenges they are facing. More consumers are becoming economically vulnerable due to the rise in the cost of living. The risk of over-indebtedness is also increasing, while new practices such as ‘Buy now pay later’ make it easier for people to consume. Furthermore, vulnerabilities influenced by factors such as age, gender, and disabilities continue to require particular attention, especially in the context of the digitalisation of our societies. A strong consumer movement is essential to support consumers in their everyday lives and provide input for policy making.
- Background paper for this workshop.
- This workshop will be held in the Room Elm, on the 1st floor of the venue.
- If you have registered for this workshop, at the bottom of your badge there should be a blue bar with the mention "Workshop 1".
Hub 2. Sustainable consumption
The Consumer Summit will be an opportunity to brainstorm how we can support EU consumers to become more conscious and foster ‘better’ consumption. The 2023 Consumer Scoreboard demonstrates that the vast majority of consumers believe that they should personally do more to contribute to the green transition and tackling climate change. Nevertheless, in practice their choices often do not reflect their intentions and environmental concerns. To bridge this “intention-action gap”, the sustainable choice should be the easy choice, and remain affordable. Discussions will focus on ways to promote sustainable consumption in the digital age, and foster circularity and on sectors which will require specific attention to reduce consumers’ environmental impact.
- Background paper for this workshop.
- This workshop will be held in the Room Pagoda I, on the 8th floor of the venue.
- If you have registered for this workshop, at the bottom of your badge there should be a green bar with the mention "Workshop 2".
Hub 3. Digital and advanced technologies
The Consumer Summit will afford participants with an opportunity to identify current and forthcoming digital challenges, such as consumers being increasingly subjected to commercial practices that distort their decision-making (e.g. dark patterns, manipulative use of AI and personalisation) or safety risks (including mental health risks) linked to new technology products such as software or AI chatbots. Furthermore, the dependence on digital technologies could lead to vulnerable consumers no longer having full access to basic goods and services on the market, and consumers may face increasing difficulties in accessing a human interlocutor.
- Background paper for this workshop.
- This workshop will be held in the Plenary room, on the level floor of the venue.
- If you have registered for this workshop, at the bottom of your badge there should be a grey bar with the mention "Workshop 3".
Hub 4. International dimension of consumer policies
The Consumer Summit will be an opportunity to explore main issues for consumer policy in the global context, assess the impact of current EU activities and identify new priority actions. With global supply chains and rapid digitalisation of consumer markets, opportunities and challenges for consumers are increasingly cross-border. This includes fraudulent commercial practices, climatic impact of consumption, and the entry of dangerous products into our market. New priority actions will be discussed in the sphere of increased collaboration between partners, protecting EU consumers from dangerous products / illegal practices and strengthening consumer protection frameworks in Member States.
- Background paper for this workshop.
- This workshop will be held in the Room Pagoda II, on the 8th floor of the venue.
- If you have registered for this workshop, at the bottom of your badge there should be a yellow bar with the mention "Workshop 4".
Hub 5. Building better compliance and enforcement
Ensuring efficient and effective enforcement of EU consumer and product safety rules is essential. Wherever they are in the EU, consumers should be assured that businesses selling goods or providing services in the (digital) single market comply with applicable rules and that they have access to effective redress mechanisms when their rights are affected. The Summit will be an opportunity to discuss how we can keep EU enforcement and redress frameworks fit to tackle emerging consumer challenges (especially those related to the green and digital transition), to address large-scale (online) infringements of EU consumer law by (third country) traders, and to ensure a consistent and adequate level of consumer protection across the Union.
- Background paper for this workshop.
- This workshop will be held in the Room Chestnut, on the 1st floor of the venue.
- If you have registered for this workshop, at the bottom of your badge there should be a red bar with the mention "Workshop 5".
Hub 6. A fair Single Market that works for consumers and traders
The digital and green transition, as well as recent crises put high pressure on both consumers and businesses. Consumers’ cost-of-living dramatically increased, creating fears among many of how to pay their basic bills. To address these insecurities and fears, the discussion will look at how we can develop strong consumer policies and maintain a fair Single Market that, besides its economic and social dimension, continues to reflect our common European values and equally works and delivers for both consumers and businesses.
Discussions will focus on how to develop a more consumer-centric approach in the broader EU policy-making, starting from what really matters for consumers, over how to more effectively engage stakeholders, to creating incentives for pro-consumer initiatives and develop ways to empower and educate consumers to better use their rights and leverage.
- Background paper for this workshop.
- This workshop will be held in the Room Buckeye, on the 1st floor of the venue.
- If you have registered for this workshop, at the bottom of your badge there should be a pink bar with the mention "Workshop 6".
