European Commission overhauls online shopping laws

The Commission said that the new rules would establish the kind of consistent system which is necessary if cross-border trade is expected to flourish.

Though the four existing directives provided some consistency, the Commission's statement said, it was not enough. "Member States have added rules in an uncoordinated manner over the years, making EU consumer contract laws a patchwork of 27 sets of differing rules for example: a mix of differing information obligations, differing cooling off periods ranging from 7 to 15 days and differing obligations in relation to refunds and repairs," it said.

Before becoming a Directive, the proposals must be agreed by the European Parliament and by governments through the Council of Ministers.