European Union consumers do not fully benefit from common market opportunities because of barriers blocking trans-border trade, according to a European Commission report, sent to our editorial office. Thus, there is an ever growing discrepancy between trans-border electronic trade and home trade. National conditions for consumers, measured, for instance, through their trust in consumer protection authorities and in non-governmental organizations, as well as through dispute-solving efficiency, have deteriorated in many countries. Some member states accumulated more points, despite the difficult economic situation. Consumers’ ability to afford goods and services greatly differs between countries; thus, in six countries, accessibility is lower than half the EU average. Living costs in richer EU countries are more accessible to consumers, in spite of higher prices. The Commission will undertake actions to remove these barriers, relying on a series of measures which include simplifying regulations for retail sellers.
Moreover, 44 per cent of consumers interviewed and 67 per cent of retailers who answered in the EC survey think that the consumer goods on the Romanian market are unsafe. At the other end, states which boast of a high level of trust in goods from consumers and retailers on the domestic market are Finland and Estonia.
The Romanian retail market will slump with 2.3 per cent in 2010, the second consecutive year of decrease, at RON 190 bln, according to a study conducted by Polish research firm PMR, which estimates an industry recovery in 2011-2012.
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