18.8.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 293/77
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules promoting the repair of goods and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directives (EU) 2019/771 and (EU) 2020/1828
(COM(2023) 155 final — 2023/0083 (COD))
(2023/C 293/11)
Rapporteur:
Thierry LIBAERT
Co-rapporteur:
Émilie PROUZET
Referral
European Parliament, 17.4.2023
Council of the European Union, 12.4.2023
Legal basis
Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Section responsible
Section for Single Market, Production and Consumption
Adopted in section
2.6.2023
Outcome of vote
(for/against/abstentions)
66/0/0
Adopted at plenary
14.6.2023
Plenary session No
579
Outcome of vote
(for/against/abstentions)
178/1/1
- Conclusions and recommendations
1.9. 2. Gist of the Commission document
- at the time of purchase, pursuant to:
a. the proposal for an ecodesign for sustainable products regulation, including requirements on product design and the availability of spare parts; and
b. the proposal for a Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition, which includes requirements for information on the durability and repairability of products at the point of sale;
- and after purchase:
a. pursuant to the Directive laying down the legal guarantee, during the guarantee period following purchase of the product, consumers may, in cases involving a defective product, choose between repairing or replacing non-compliant products free of charge. A choice not to repair can be made in cases where it is not possible or where the cost to do so for the distributor is disproportionate, or where it causes significant inconvenience for the consumer;
b. this initiative on repairability also covers the after-sale period.
2.3. —
a general obligation to repair;
—
the requirement to provide information forms on repairs and repairers;
—
the requirement to provide information on repairing;
—
the requirement to create a national platform for information on repairs and on repairers.
There is also an Article amending Directive (EU) 2019/771 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) on consumer remedies provisions for non-conformity (legal guarantee). Priority is given to repair over replacement where the cost of repair would be lower or equal to replacing the product.
- General comments
3.7. 4. Specific comments
This section sets out avenues for improvement based on the Commission’s proposals in light of the objective to make repair more appealing than replacement in the eyes of consumers.
4.1. Improving information for consumers
4.1.4. 4.2. Facilitating repair work
4.2.5. 4.3. Promoting product repairability at the design stage and beyond
4.3.5. 4.4. Acting on the cost of repairs
4.4.4. Brussels, 14 June 2023.
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee
Oliver RÖPKE
(2) Directive (EU) 2019/771 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on certain aspects concerning contracts for the sale of goods, amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive 2009/22/EC, and repealing Directive 1999/44/EC (OJ L 136, 22.5.2019, p. 28).
(3) GAIA, Zero Waste and Economic Recovery, The job creation potential of zero waste solutions, 2021.
(4) Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and better information (COM(2022) 143 final — 2022/0092 (COD)) (OJ C 443, 22.11.2022, p. 75).