COUNCIL RESOLUTIONof 15 December 1986on the integration of consumer policy in the other common policies(87/C 3/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Whereas the Council resolution of 23 June 1986 concerning the future orientation of the policy of the European Economic Community for the protection and promotion of consumer interests (1) considers that proposals for legislation should focus on those areas where there is a Community dimension; Whereas the said resolution endorses the objective of providing consumers with an increased ability to benefit from the Community market, as an important step on the road to a 'People's Europe'; Whereas the said resolution underlines the importance of promoting alternative approaches to Regulations whenever they offer effective means of significant progress; Whereas the said resolution approves the objective of taking greater account of consumers' interests in other Community policies, especially those concerned with completion of the internal market, in particular regarding improvements to the quality of products and services, and with agriculture, competition and transport; Whereas it is therefore important to take early measures to achieve these objectives, which will help notably to strengthen the economic and social cohesion of the Community; Whereas the Commission has forwarded a communication to the Council entitled 'Integration of Consumer Policy into other Common Policies'. 1. Welcomes the submission of the Commission's communication and notes with interest its examination of how the interests of consumers could in future be taken into account in the different areas of Community policy and its analysis of the opportunities for consumers or their representatives to make known their point of view; 2. Without prejudice to further examination of the detailed guidelines proposed in the communication, endorses the Commission's view that consumer interests must be taken more fully into account in the drafting of proposals affecting those interests, with due regard to the specific nature of the policy area concerned; 3. Welcomes the Commission's decision to take steps to strengthen its internal coordination procedures to ensure that this need is fully respected; 4. Invites the Commission, in furthering these steps, to investigate inter alia the impact of proposals on the prices of goods or services, their quality, their safety, the range of choice available to consumers and the state of competition in the market; to undertake such consultation of consumer groups as may be necessary; and to confirm for any relevant proposal that these factors have been taken into account; 5. Considers that the representation of consumer interests should be taken into account when deciding on the composition of the Economic and Social Committee and that there should be appropriate participation of bodies representative of consumers in the work of national and international standards organizations when standards relating to consumer products are discussed; 6. Recalls to the Commission the need to ensure that appropriate conditions exist for the effective and duly representative consultation of consumers on matters affecting their interests, so that consumers' priorities are adequately reflected in the work of the Community, and notes that the Commission will keep these matters under review; 7. Endorses the Commission's proposal to submit periodically a report to the Council on the progress that has been made towards better integration of consumer policy into other Community policies, including all the matters covered in this resolution, and requests that the first report be completed at the end of 1987; 8. Resolves to continue discussion with the Commission on the matters covered by this resolution and by the Council resolution of 23 June 1986 in the appropriate Council bodies. (1) OJ No C 167, 5. 7. 1986, p. 1.