(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission on Wednesday approved proposals to give more protection to consumers shopping online throughout the 27-nation bloc, seeking to ease fears over e-fraud.

"We need an EU-wide safety net of rights, so consumers have the security they need to shop around with peace of mind," said EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.

The legislation would require online-retailers, including Internet auction sites, to do much more to assure the safety of their clients' money.

Under the scheme, which is yet be approved by the European Parliament and the 27 member states, vendors will have to provide adequate product information ahead of any sale, guarantee delivery within 30 days and the seller would be responsible for any damage in transit.

There would also be a two-week 'cooling off' period after the products arrived, during which the purchaser could cancel the order without giving a reason.

Brussels officials believe a tougher virtual selling regime is needed in a rapidly growing sector forecast to generate 128 billion euros (175 million dollars) across the EU this year.

"We want to help consumer to be aware of their rights and to prevent them being duped," said Kuneva, after receiving the green light for the project from her commission colleagues.

"With household budgets under strain and purchasing power at the top of citizens' concerns, it has never been more important for consumers to be able to compare prices and shop around to get the best value on offer," she said.

"These new rules are designed to strengthen protection and close the loopholes in key areas that are undermining consumer trust."

The BEUC European consumers association said the legislative package, which also incudes measures to tighten up on other types of selling, such as door-to-door sales and market stalls, should "make consumers' daily life easier and provide consumers with sufficient guarantees."

The business association group BusinessEurope also greeted the initiative as "good news" and urged EU member states not to dilute the plans.

Some 150 million EU citizens, a third of the total, shop over the Internet, according to the commission, but only 30 million do so across borders due to a lack of confidence and doubts that they could get their money back if there were a problem.

Proposed consumer rights directive - briefing

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