VoicE - A Tool for Citizens' participation in EU Consumer protection policy

'There are now more than 490 million consumers in Europe and their expenditure represents over half of the EU's gross domestic product (GDP). Consumers are essential to economic growth and job creation...' (Meglena Kuneva, EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs)

The statement of the EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Meglana Kuneva underlines the fact that consumers are the key players in the European economy. To buttress the key players position as consumers, the EU consumer protection policy supports by legislation a fair, open and transparant European Single Market.

However, EU legislation in the area of consumer protection is hardly comprehensible for many consumers and raises a multitude of questions. Questions like: 'How is the safety of toys guaranteed?' - ' Which additives are allowed in food?' - 'Will the European market for electricity be liberalised?' bother Europeans more and more.

To enable the consumer to get closer to European business and to enhance the citizens' participation within the EU legislation, the citizens now have the unique opportunity to discuss current topics linked to consumer protection with their representatives in Brussels on the eParticipation platform ' VoicE.

The discussion will focus on five main topics:

- Energy

- Telecommunications

- Nutrition

- Toy safety

- Consumer market observation

The site offers background information on all above topics as well as EU-legislation and the European institutions. With up-to-date communication tools like blogs and online forums, the platform facilitates a constructive dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives at EU-level. VoicE is a pilot project and at the moment implemented in two EU-regions: in Baden-Württemberg with a German platform (www.bw-voice.eu) and in Valencia with a Spanish platform (www.voice.gva.es). (For an English version look at: www.give-your-voice.eu)

While directly contacting the MEP's from their local region, citizens might ask relevant questions and give their opinions. Politicians have the opportunity to react immediately to citizens' proposals, answer questions and position themselves in the area of consumer protection. VoicE allows them to listen to their voters' concerns and learn more about their expectations of European politics.

Responsible for the regional focus of VoicE in Baden Württemberg is the 'Medien und Filmgeseelschaft' (MFG) in cooperation with the Ministry for consumer protection ('Ministerium für Ernährung und ländlichen Raum') and the 'Europa Zentrum Baden Württemberg' in Stuttgart.

Levent Günes

For more information, please contact:

Europa Zentrum Baden Württemberg, Mr. Levent Günes, Nadlerstrasse 4, 70173 Stuttgart, Tel: *(0)-711-23 49 367, levent.guenes@europa-zentrum.de