The European Commission has responded to a question by New Democracy MEP George Eutia about the protection of the market and the economy from illegal product selling platforms, stressing that a strict legal framework will be implemented that will protect consumers from illegal activities in e -commerce.

In addition, it determines clear obligations and responsibilities for electronic markets. The Commission also intends to remedy any injustice between retailers and e -commerce traders outside the EU by imposing equitable conditions of competition.

The Commission in her answer underlines that:

  1. It takes measures for a safe and sustainable e -commerce.
  2. Consumers are protected by an integrated legal framework and determine clear liabilities and responsibilities for electronic markets, with the aim of ensuring that traders can only sell products that comply with the relevant product safety requirements and other EU requirements, including the general security regulation.
  3. It intends to create equal conditions for competition between e -commerce traders outside the EU and EU retailers, with the abolition of 150 -euro tariff exemption and by aligning customs rules with VAT rules.
  4. It will coordinate intensive controls on customs and markets with the aim of e -commerce and will make structural changes to improve the effectiveness of customs authorities.
  5. There will be a single contributions to ensure the collection of VAT.

The complete answer is:

1. On February 5, 2025, the Commission announced a comprehensive set of EU measures on safe and sustainable e -commerce[1]describing the Commission’s overall approach to address the challenges related to e -commerce, including a series of specific measures.

In terms of customs, the Commission calls on co -co -insights to rapidly approve the reform of EU customs, which proposes structural changes to improve the effectiveness of customs authorities. It also includes measures on value added tax (VAT) to ensure VAT collection [2] Through the single contribution box and the imposition of the responsibility for the payment of VAT when importing to the suppliers. The Commission will also coordinate intensive audits of customs and market supervision aimed at e -commerce in a priority control area.

2. In the Communication, the Commission also describes how it intends to create equitable conditions for competition between e -commerce traders outside the EU and EU retailers. This includes the abolition of 150 euro tariff exemption and the customs rules of customs rules. In terms of textiles, the Commission is considering ecological design requirements under the regulation for ecological planning of sustainable products [3]which will also apply to imported products. To protect consumers in the EU, there is an integrated legal framework, including the law on digital services [4]which determines clear liabilities and responsibilities for online markets and aims to ensure that traders can only sell products that comply with the relevant product security requirements and other EU requirements, including the general security regulation. [5].

3. The agreement for a clean industry (CID) [6] It describes specific actions to convert charrification into a driving force for European industries. Since the circular economy is one of the driving levers defined in the CID, this principle also has an impact on the textile industry. To this end, the Commission is processing the first work plan for ecological planning[7]which defines horizontal ecological design requirements for certain products of products, including textiles.

For the ecosystem of textile products, it is necessary to grow sustainable products from the beginning in order to create a competitive advantage in green business models. In addition, the Commission is always ready to take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with EU standards and to protect European consumers and businesses from global competition and geopolitical uncertainties.

1. [1]https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/e-commerce-communication

2. [1]https://vat-one-stop-shop.ec.europa.eu/index_en

3. [1]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj/eng

4. [1]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/txt/?uri=celex%3A32022R2065

5. [1]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/988/oj/eng

6. [1]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/txt/?uri=celex%3A52025DC0085

7. [1]https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/txt/?uri=celex:52022xC0504(01)