EuroCommerce, the voice of the European retail and wholesale sector, has published its recommendations for the revision of the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation, calling for stronger and more effective enforcement of EU consumer protection rules across the Single Market.
At a time of massive inflows of non-compliant products and unfair practices of third country traders and marketplaces, such a revision is more than timely. EuroCommerce warns that insufficient enforcement is undermining consumer trust and retailers’ competitiveness.
Christel Delberghe, Director General of EuroCommerce, said: “EU consumer protection rules are very strong already, however, effective enforcement is essential to ensure a level playing field in the Single Market. Today, European retailers are competing with operators that do not comply with EU rules but can still easily access our market. This is not sustainable for businesses or consumers. The CPC revision is a key opportunity to fix this and restore trust in the Single Market”.
The newly published position paper sets out a series of concrete recommendations to modernise the CPC framework and make it fit for today’s digital and globalised economy. These include:
- Modernising procedural rules to speed up cases;
- Providing a stronger mandate to the Commission to address certain EU-wide infringements;
- Introducing an EU instrument to temporarily limit or suspend Union market access; Improving collaboration across enforcement domains; Leveraging new technologies and data sharing for more efficient enforcement;
- Providing guidance and recommendations for businesses and authorities;
- Establishing stakeholder dialogue to address systemic infringements and coordinate awareness campaigns.
The revision of the CPC Regulation, expected in Q4 2026, will play a crucial role in ensuring that all traders serving EU consumers, regardless of where they are based, comply with EU rules.
Ms Delberghe added: “We need enforcement tools that match the reality of today’s market. When harmful practices affect consumers across the Union, we need swift and effective action at EU level. At the same time, enforcement efforts must be targeted where the risks are highest, especially when dealing with non-EU operators.”
The paper builds on EuroCommerce’s ten legal recommendations to restore the level playing field, presented in October 2025, and was unveiled at the Retail Innovation Summit, a high-level event exploring how the retail and wholesale sectors are shaping the future of Europe’s economy.
