Abstract
The author in these concluding remarks seeks to locate the role of soft law as an instrument for implementing active consumer protection policy in the present regulatory crisis debate. By drawing on the national and EEC structures outlined in the workshop debate, he shows that the imbalance of modern industrial societies has led to a greater need for consumer protection. State intervention becomes necessary to counter-balance the failure of the present market structures and appears to be the only means of consumers gaining market power. Almost all speakers at the workshop reacted favourably to a flexible form of regulation, but opinion seemed to be against replacing consumer policy by soft law alone.
The author goes on to show how the present EEC consumer policy is merely a reflection of modern consumer law and that there are limits to Community action in this sphere, which should not be meekly accepted. The inability of the Community to reach consensus is visible in spheres other than that of consumer policy. The core issue remains one of a political approach to an economic crisis which demands more and not less regulation.
The question of whether “soft” or “hard” law is the most appropriate can only be settled by the use of an appropriate instrument: soft law can only function within an environment of a minimum level of law. The pre-requisites to a system of soft law being fully effective within the Community have not yet been reached. There is a need for a revival of the consumer movement within the Community and increasing sensitivity on the part of policy makers towards consumer demands.
Zusammenfassung
In seinen Schlußbemerkungen geht der Autor von der Notwendigkeit aus, auf der Ebene der EG wie in den Mitgliedstaaten weitere verbraucherschützende Maßnahmen zu ergreifen. Die Referate hätten übereinstimmend ergeben, daß nicht ein Abbau von Regulierung, sondern flexible Instrumente das Gebot der Stunde seien. Nach wie vor existierten Marktversagensformen, die staatliche Intervention notwendig machten. Der Schutzbedarf des Konsumenten sei eher größer als kleiner geworden. Die Angleichungspolitik der EG müsse schon deshalb fortgesetzt werden, um Regulierungslücken zu schließen. Wenngleich die Grenzen der Handlungsmöglichkeit der EG heute deutlich seien, müßten sie gerade im Interesse der Schaffung eines Gemeinsamen Marktes überwunden werden.
Der Streit um den Vorrang von Maßnahmen des “hard” oder “soft law” reduziere sich auf eine Auseinandersetzung um geeignete Regulierungsinstrumente. Ohne ein Mindestmaß an zwingendem Recht, institutionellem Gefüge und Beteiligungsrechten von Verbraucherorganisationen könne eine “soft law” Regulierung, etwa durch freiwillige Verhaltenskodices und Selbstkontrolle nicht funktionieren. Hierfür bestünden auf EG-Ebene bislang noch nicht die Voraussetzungen, so daß der Prozeß der Rechtsangleichung nicht nur vorangetrieben, sondern um neue Instrumente angereichert werden muß. Geboten sei eine Reaktivierung der Verbraucherbewegung in der EG.
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Additional information
Thierry Bourgoignie is Head of the Consumer Law Research Centre, Faculté de Droit, Place Montesquieu 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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Bourgoignie, T. The need to reformulate consumer protection policy. J Consum Policy 7, 307–321 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380494
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380494