Major 2006 activities for which the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has obtained EU funds include the following: establishment of a database of consumer complaints, education campaign for young consumers, training for businesses and consumer ombudsmen, and scientific publications

The most important activity carried out under the Community project Phare 2003 Strengthening the Consumer Protection Policy, which has been allocated over EUR 1.5 million, is the establishment of a database containing information about complaints filed to consumer ombudsmen and the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. Thanks to the electronic register, intervention of institutions protecting the rights of less powerful market players will be faster and more efficient. Moreover, monitoring of commercial practices which pose threat to consumer interests will be more effective.

Phare funds will make it possible to deliver training for consumer ombudsmen. This project is unprecedented since for the first time training will be attended by all ombudsmen, which gives a total of over 360 participants.

Some projects financed from Community funds will be targeted at education of businesses. The project will comprise delivery of training on topics such as electronic trade, internet fraud, and protection of the youngest consumers who use the internet. Additionally, information publications targeted at undertakings will appear.

The European Union co-finances also the TV series Consumer and Consumer in the world of competition, and the education and information campaign targeted at youngsters, entitled My consumer ABC.

So far, as part of Phare 2003 implementation, consumer ombudsmen, arbitration consumer courts and non-governmental organisations protecting the rights of less powerful market players have been equipped with 400 computer sets.

Additional information:
Elżbieta Anders, Spokesperson of UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK)
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Phone 22 827 28 92, 55 60 106, 55 60 314
E-mail: eanders@uokik.gov.pl