By Anne-France White - 26th September 2006
More EU consumers are shopping abroad but the European market is still fragmented along national lines, a new report shows.
The Eurobarometer, released on Wednesday by the European commission, shows that more and more people shop “cross-border” – that is, in other countries or from websites or sales representatives based in other countries.
26 per cent of respondents said they made at least one cross-border purchase in the last year, compared to 12 per cent in 2003.
Increasing numbers are also buying online: 27 per cent say they made an e-purchase in the last year.
But just 6 per cent bought online from a foreign website - showing that people are still wary of cross-border shopping.
Two thirds of Europeans say shopping cross-border raises more risks with regard to resolving complaints, returning goods, falling victim to fraud and having delivery problems.
“The growth in cross-border shopping shows that the commission’s vision of a borderless retail market is beginning to take shape,” commented EU consumer commissioner Markos Kyprianou.
“But we still have some way to go before the real potential of the retail internal market is unlocked for consumers and businesses.”
“We have more to do to boost consumer confidence but also to help businesses overcome obstacles to market and sell their products cross-border.”
The commission says it is working on boosting education and information to help make consumers more confident.
It is also reviewing and updating a series of consumer laws on issues including timeshare, doorstep selling and distance selling.
The Eurobarometer findings are based on a poll of 25,000 people across the EU’s 25 member states carried out in February and March.
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