COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 14 April 1975

on a preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;

Having regard to the communication from the Commission on the preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for consumer information and protection;

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (1);

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2);

Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the task of the European Economic Community is to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and an accelerated raising of the standard of living;

Whereas the improvement of the quality of life is one of the tasks of the Community and as such implies protecting the health, safety and economic interests of the consumer;

Whereas fulfilment of this task requires a consumer protection and information policy to be implemented at Community level;

Whereas the Heads of State or of Government meeting in Paris on 19 and 20 October 1972 confirmed this requirement by calling upon the institutions of the Communities to strengthen and coordinate measures for consumer protection and to submit a programme by January 1974;

APPROVES the principle of a consumer protection and information policy and the principles, objectives and general description of action to be taken at Community level as set out in the preliminary programme annexed hereto;

NOTES that the Commission will at a later date submit suitable proposals for the implementation of this programme, using the ways and means mentioned therein;

UNDERTAKES to act on the abovementioned proposals, if possible within nine months of the date on which they are forwarded by the Commission.

(1) OJ No C 62, 30.5.1974, p. 8.

(2) OJ No C 97, 16.8.1974, p. 47.