The Council of the European Union has published a corrigendum correcting an error in the Greek language version of Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights. The document, dated 1 July 2026, amends Article 21, first paragraph, replacing the phrase 'συναπτόμενες συμβάσεις' (contracts being concluded) with 'συναφθείσες συμβάσεις' (contracts that have been concluded). The correction ensures that the provision limiting consumer charges for calls to trader helplines applies to calls about already concluded contracts, not those still under negotiation.
The corrigendum follows Procedure 2(b) for obvious errors in a single language version, which included an eight-day observation period for member states. The original directive, adopted on 25 October 2011, harmonises consumer rights across the EU, covering areas such as pre-contractual information, withdrawal rights, and delivery terms. Article 21 specifically prohibits traders from charging consumers more than the basic rate for telephone calls made in relation to an existing contract.
The linguistic correction has no substantive policy impact but prevents potential misinterpretation by Greek-speaking consumers and traders. It ensures legal certainty and uniform application of consumer protection rules across all EU languages. The change affects only the Greek version; other language versions remain unchanged.
Stakeholder impact is minimal. Greek consumers benefit from clearer legal language, while traders avoid confusion over their obligations. EU regulatory bodies and national authorities gain improved legal clarity for enforcement. No further institutional follow-up is required, as the corrigendum is a technical correction rather than a policy change.