European Commission overhauls online shopping laws

"The new rules will significantly strengthen consumer protection across the EU and guarantee equal protection for consumers wherever and however they shop – online or in the high street," said Kuneva. "It is the most far reaching overhaul of consumer rights in 30 years."

Kuneva said that the rules were intended to benefit businesses as well as consumers. "[The rules] will significantly reduce the burden on Europe's hard pressed business community," she said. 

The Commission claimed that some retailers could cut compliance costs by 97% by having a standard set of consumer contract terms across the EU's 27 countries.

The new rules will include action on some of the unfair terms that appear in consumer contracts. Any pre-selected options in contracts which cost consumers, for example, will be invalid.

"All pre-ticked boxes which apply to payments are banned – for example, for travel insurance, priority boarding and baggage," said Kuneva.

The Commission will also publish a new blacklist of terms which should not appear in contracts to ensure that consumers are not caught out by hidden terms in contracts. 

Those terms are prohibited, and the use of terms on a grey list will be prohibited unless the retailer proves that they should not be.

For distance sales, such as online sales, consumers will be entitled to an EU-wide 'cooling off' period of 14 calendar days during which they can change their minds about a contract they have signed.