About the ECC Network
ECC Sweden is part of the EU network European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net), a cooperation between consumer centres in 29 countries.
The centres, located in each EU country as well as in Iceland and Norway, work to strengthen consumer protection and facilitate cross-border trade within the EU. We also cooperate with a consumer centre in the United Kingdom.
The different ECC offices are funded by the European Commission and national authorities. Konsument Europa is co-funded by the EU and the Swedish Consumer Agency.
Mediation between offices
Consumers who have a cross-border problem with a company within the EU, Norway, or Iceland can contact the ECC office in their own country. The advisor then cooperates with a colleague from the ECC office in the country where the company is based. This simplifies communication, as the advisor in the other country can contact the company in its official language to avoid language barriers. Another advantage is that the office can establish direct contact with the company, providing a better foundation for discussing consumer rights.
Help for self-help
The ECC offices primarily offer help for self-help by informing consumers about their rights and how to exercise them. Therefore, consumers must first have filed a complaint with the company themselves before the ECC network can intervene and mediate. The ECC network does not have any enforcement powers over companies. Its work is based on voluntary cooperation between consumers and businesses.
The ECC network also provides information to consumers through various campaigns.
Who can turn to ECC Sweden?
Consumers who live in Sweden and have problems with a business operator in another EU country, Norway or Iceland can turn to ECC Sweden.
Consumers from another EU country who have problems with a Swedish business operator contact the ECC centre in their country.
All European Consumer Centres
You can find addresses to all ECC offices via the ECC Network’s official website.
The work of the ECC Network
The European Consumer Centre Network works on joint projects, such as reports on e-commerce and the rights of air passengers, among other topics. Through contact with consumers, we can identify and map different consumer problems and contribute to the development and revision of the EU legislation through common points of view.
The ECC Network has reconciliation meetings with the Commission. The European Consumer Centres meet regularly to coordinate and improve the on-going collaboration in case administration and in joint projects. Study visits and meetings contribute to experiential exchange and skills development.
The ECC Network was founded in 2005 and has already helped more than one million consumers.