In this episode, we dive into the European Union's approach to consumer protection legislation and policy, focusing on three key documents illustrating the evolution and coordination of enforcement across member states. First, we look back to the 2006 Directive on the free movement of services within the internal market, which aimed to simplify cross-border service provision by reducing barriers for service providers. This directive laid the essential groundwork by defining the scope of services, setting up authorization conditions, and promoting administrative cooperation among EU countries.

Next, we explore the 2017 Regulation, which builds on this by establishing a structured framework for cooperation among national authorities tasked with consumer protection. This Regulation explicitly addresses the challenge of cross-border infringements. It enhances the powers of competent authorities through mutual assistance for investigative and enforcement purposes, ensuring more decisive collective action across the EU.

Finally, we highlight a European Commission publication detailing the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network. This report showcases the network's significant achievements, such as coordinated sweeps and alert mechanisms that monitor consumer protection issues and ensure timely responses to potential threats.

Join us as we discuss how these legislative pillars work together to build a safer, more integrated consumer market across Europe.