Exchange of views with Commissioner Didier Reynders on the COVID-19 crisis
Commissioner Reynders referred extensively to the short-term measures taken by the Commission with respect to the package travel rules, to rogue traders, and to market surveillance of products placed on the EU market. He insisted on the importance of striking the right balance between consumer protection and support to economic operators, in particular in the tourism sector. On the package travel rules, the Commission was not against credit notes, ie “vouchers”, as an alternative to cash refunds
Mr Reynders stressed the importance for the Commission to work together with Member States on an exit and recovery strategy, and referred to the issued Recommendation on a common EU approach for the use of mobile data and applications in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In his concluding remarks, the Commissioner highlighted that also the forthcoming New Consumer Agenda will have to provide longer-term responses to the profound impacts that the corona crisis has had on the economies and societies of all Member States.