Consumers and businesses are using the Internet more and more to buy products, access entertainment and manage their daily life. In 2014, 50% of EU consumers shopped online, rising from 30% in 2007.  During 2013, 38% of businesses in the EU-28 purchased goods and services online.

The EU’s Digital Single Market Strategy adopted by the Commission on 6 May 2015  establishes a holistic approach encompassing the most important barriers that currently hinder cross-border e-commerce. One the main problem identified as hindering business and consumers to fully benefit from the Digital Single Market are differing contract rules that apply in cross-border sales within the EU.

The purpose of this public consultation is to collect interested parties’ views on the possible ways forward to remove contract law obstacles related to the online purchases of digital content and tangible goods. It does not aim at addressing copyrights related issues as this will be subject to a separate course of action.