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Increasing E-Commerce: improved security
17 February 2009
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly adopted a report which seeks an increase in ecommerce, particularly by demanding increased security and simplified rules for internet transactions.
The report, drafted by Greek MEP Georgios Papastamkos, was adopted by 562 votes in favour, 9 against and 10 abstentions.
Parliament noted that only 30 million EU citizens carry out cross-border online shopping in the EU, and established that the lack of trust in the security and safety of online transactions and payments "constitutes the most important danger for the future of ecommerce".
It therefore called on the Commission to investigate the causes, and to increase its efforts to strengthen trust in international electronic payment systems, as well as establishing means to resolve disputes relating to illegal commercial practices.
MEPs noted that these illegal practices, including counterfeiting and piracy, existed prior to the internet, but that the technology has "facilitated and exacerbated" these activities. Enforcement measures therefore needed to be strengthened in a way which would combat and possibly eliminate existing illegal behaviour online without hindering the development of international ecommerce.
Of particular concern to MEPs were cases liable to involve major risks to public health, such as counterfeit medicines.
The report also proposes a number of measures aimed to incentives SMEs to increase their ecommerce activities. It recommends that the Commission establishes a database to provide information and guidance to new and inexperienced participants in online training, and to conduct a comparative economic analysis on the benefits of online commerce and advertising for SMEs.
Source: di-ve.com
