Creation of a bilateral body to protect consumers in dealings with car repairers: possible funding and best practice
17.4.2014
Question for written answer E-005183-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Roberta Angelilli (PPE)
A bilateral body, the OPAC Network, was recently set up by Gi Car Services S.r.l and Konsumer Italia (a consumer association) to impose rules and checks to protect consumers in dealings with all categories of car repairer in terms of vehicle repair, checks on procedures, customer satisfaction and safety checks. The objective of this body is to provide protection across the board in the interface between consumers and car repairers and promote quality of service, fair practice, honesty and transparency in contractual dealings and the provision of information to the consumer. The parties have also agreed to work in synergy with a view to the formulation of fair trade practice guidelines in terms of the offer, sale and execution of car repair contracts and aim to provide a joint conciliation tool (regarded as best practice by the European institutions) to channel information and monitor all stages of the repair process and, where necessary, resolve disputes.
In consideration of the European Union's focus on the formulation of policies designed to enhance consumer protection and the abovementioned body's wish to respond to the need to increase road safety and reduce the level of fatalities and injuries in road accidents, the Commission is asked the following questions:
- 1.Does funding exist or are there opportunities to participate in European tenders to support this project?
- 2.Do similar projects or best practice exist in other Member States?
- 3.What funding or opportunities to participate in European tenders exists in the 2014-2020 programming period to support the creation and development of bilateral consumer protection bodies?
OJ C 426, 27/11/2014