"The EU consumers are asking us to give a shared European response to the challenges of climate and energy": Andris Piebalgs, energy commissioner, opens consultations across the EU in order to launch, before December, the Energy Consumer Charter. "As well as the guarantee of sustainable, safe and competitive energy provisions he specifies , the citizens expect the Union to do all it can to protect their consumer rights in deregulated markets, which offer a wider choice of providers". According to the Executive, the purpose of the Charter "is to outline consumer rights in the area of power and gas provisions, in terms of contracts, information, prices, settlement of controversies and protection from unfair business practices. The Charter should "help the consumers decide advisedly when they choose their providers", by asserting their rights and protecting their interests in the electricity and gas markets which are open to competition, "as it has happened in most member states since 1st July 2007". The EU Commission is planning to hold the official ceremony for the presentation of the Charter by the end of the year.
