Greek MEP Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE) has asked the European Commission to outline measures to protect consumers from misleading discounts and unfair practices during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, following a sweep of 314 online sales platforms across 23 EU Member States that found 30% displayed deceptive discounts. The written question, submitted on 16 April 2026, targets practices such as hidden fees, failure to explain reference prices, and unsolicited additions to shopping baskets, which affect consumers across the bloc.
Tsiodras requests specific measures to tackle false discounts and hidden fees, options for more effective cross-border enforcement under the revision of the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Regulation, and ways to strengthen information exchange between national authorities. He also raises the possibility of uniform EU-wide sanctions for infringements affecting multiple Member States, rather than country-by-country penalties.
Policy orientation The MEP's questions signal a push for stronger EU-level consumer protection, with a focus on harmonised enforcement and deterrent sanctions. By referencing the CPC revision, Tsiodras aligns with efforts to equip authorities with better tools to address cross-border e-commerce abuses, particularly during high-volume sales events.
Expected follow-up The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it plans to propose legislative or non-legislative measures, and whether it supports uniform sanctions or prefers to maintain national discretion. The response will also clarify the Commission's stance on the CPC revision's scope and ambition.
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