19 December 2001

Council adopted Common Position on Distance Marketing Directive

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The Council has adopted a Common Position on the Directive on Distance Marketing and Financial Services in its meeting on 19 December. Four amendments made by the European Parliament have been rejected and a number of others have been slightly changed. Also a number of new provisions or elements have been introduced.

The Common Position represents a careful balance of concerns and interests with the result of:

a high level of harmonisation of information requirements in Article 3;

the possibility for Member States to maintain or introduce more stringent information requirements, in conformity with Community law, ensuring at the same time a maximum of transparency;

a very far-reaching harmonisation of the right of withdrawal, payment of the service, unsolicited services, unsolicited communications, redress etc.;

providing for the possibility of amending or further harmonising the provisions of the Directive in the light of experience gained;

clarifying the relation of this Directive to the e-commerce Directive.

See Common Position

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