This study on the functioning of retail electricity markets for consumers in the EU is the follow up to the first market study conducted in 2009/2010, and published by the European Commission in 2010. The objectives of the current study are to investigate if a well-functioning electricity market...

This study about legal and commercial guarantees, funded by the European Union in the frame of the EU Consumer Programme (2014-2020), looks at the extent to which sellers are aware of, and comply with, relevant EU legislation; the way in which legal and commercial guarantees are communicated to...

The key objective of this multi-method, exploratory study was to investigate advertising and marketing practices in online social media (OSM) from the perspective of consumer behaviour and consumer protection. It aimed to identify and assess commercial practices in the context of OSM that could...

The study had a threefold objective: Collecting data and evidence, testing a range of remedies to improve consumer decision-making and interest in cross-border offers, and estimating savings consumers could make. The preparatory phase involved the collection of qualitative and quantitative...

The present study was conducted as part of a wider evidence gathering by the Commission on geo-blocking as a barrier to online cross-border trade in the European Digital Single Market. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of geo-blocking...

This behavioural study examined consumer choices in relation to food sustainability, and was carried out at the Milan Expo 2015 among EXPO visitors, by CentERdata, GFK, and Ecorys. This project examined two aspects related to consumer sustainability: consumer use of sustainability information...

The present report was based on data collected within the scope of a wider investigation that feeds into one of the Commission’s top priorities: to create a borderless Digital Single Market (DSM) across Europe. The Commission’s DSM strategy for Europe, announced on May 6, 2015, aims to...

In March 2013 the Report from the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Comparison Tools was presented at the European Consumer Summit. The report highlighted challenges and shortcomings in the functioning of comparison tools, particularly with regards to the transparency and impartiality of...

The markets for bank accounts across the EU differ considerably among Member States, i.e. they are still fragmented along national lines and there is limited integration across different Member States. But even within national markets, there is evidence of major obstacles to consumer choice and...