ALIGNMENT OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN BIH WITH EU LAW

Eighth International Scientific Conference Contemporary Issues in Economics, Business and Management [EBM 2024], [pp. 167-176]

AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Alaudin Brkić , Amina Hasanović , Alisa Imamović

Download Full Pdf   

DOI: 10.46793/EBM24.167B

ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:

This paper analyzes possible approaches and directions for the subsequent alignment of the legal framework for consumer protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina with EU acquis after the adoption of the Consumer Protection Law of BiH in 2006, in which most of the implemented directives have undergone significant changes to date, with some even being repealed with the adoption of entirely new consumer directives aimed at modernizing the existing structures of EU secondary consumer law. The chronic inconsistency of consumer law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to the EU’s secondary consumer law, negatively affects the current level of protection for the rights and obligations of consumers and traders in consumer contracts within the single economic area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this context, the trade of goods with a digital element and digital services in the EU’s single digital market requires completely different approaches to the affirmation and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s digital market, with the aim of ensuring a high and unified level of consumer protection, as well as creating a legal and institutional infrastructure that will enable more effective implementation of consumer policies and the use of entirely new legal instruments in resolving consumer disputes.“ The objectives of this study are focused on analyzing the current legal framework for consumer protection in BiH, which needs to be amended and aligned with EU secondary consumer law through the implementation of newly adopted consumer directives. These directives introduce entirely new legal concepts, methods of contract formation, types of consumer contracts, and ways to protect consumer rights, which also implies presenting appropriate proposals for legislative interventions and improving the existing legal framework for consumer protection in the BiH market, and its further alignment with the EU acquis in fulfilling the obligations arising from the Stabilization and Association Agreement between BiH and the EU.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ:

consumer rights, consumer contractual relationships, EU secondary consumer law, implementation of consumer directives, alternative methods of resolving consumer disputes

REFERENCES / ЛИТЕРАТУРА:

  • Consumer Protection Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Official Gazette of BiH, No. 25/2006 and 88/2015.
  • Council Resolution on a preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy (1975). OJ C 92. Retrieved 15 December 2024 from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=oj:JOC_1975_092_R_0001_01
  • Dabović Anastasovska, J. (2023).  Implementation of Innovations in European Union Consumer Law into the Consumer Laws of the Countries in the Region. Proceedings of the Conference on Current  Issues  of  Civil  and  Commercial  Legislation  and  Legal  Practice,  20, 8 https://pf.sum.ba/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1-clanak.pdf
  • Decision of the Ombudsman Institution for Consumer Protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Number 05-26-4-1010-1/23, dated September 28, 2023.
  • European Commission (2009). Commission Decision of 14 September 2009 setting up a European Consumer Consultative Group, 2009/705/EC, OJ L 244.
  • European Parlament and Council (2017). Regulation (EU) 2017/826 on establishing a Union programme to support specific activities enhancing the involvement of consumers and other financial services end users in Union policy-making in the area of financial services for the period of 2017-2020 (2017). OJ L 129. Retrieved 20 December 2024. from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017R0826
  • European Parliament and Council (2017). Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 (Text with EEA relevance) OJ L 345. Retrieved 20 December 2024 from: EUR-Lex – 32017R2394 – EN – EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
  • European Commission (2018). Consumer Markets Scoreboard: making markets work for consumers – 2018 edition. Retrieved 20 December 2024 from: Consumer Markets Scoreboard: making markets work for consumers – 2018 edition (europa.eu)
  • European Commission (2019). Consumer Conditions Scoreboard, Consumers in the Single Market. Retrieved 20 December 2024 from:                      https://op.europa.eu/fi/publication- detail/-/publication/8c4649b6-1258-11ea-8c1f-01aa75ed71a1/language-en (accessed December 5 2024).
  • European Commission (2020). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, New Consumer Agenda Strengthening consumer resilience for sustainable recovery, COM/2020/696 final, EUR-Lex – 52020DC0696 – EN – EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
  • European Parliament and Council (2021). Regulation (EU) 2021/690 establishing a programme for the internal market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European statistics (Single Market Programme) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 99/2013, (EU) No 1287/2013, (EU) No 254/2014 and (EU) No 652/2014  (2021).
  • PE/18/2021/INIT, OJ L 153. Retrieved 15 December 2024 from: https://eur- lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/690/oj/eng
  • European Commission (2024), Bosnia and Herzegovina Report. Retrieved 26 November 2024 from: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bosnia-and- herzegovina-report-2024_en?s=219
  • Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Urgent Need for the Adoption of a New Consumer Protection Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 20 December 2024 from: https://fbihvlada.gov.ba/bs/neophodno-donosenje-novog- zakona-o-zastiti-potrosaca-u-bih
  • Ombdusman Institution for Consumer Protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2024). Annual Report  of  the  Ombudsman.  Retreived  21  December  2024  from: http://www.ozp.gov.ba/upload/planiranje/Izvje%C5%A1%C4%87e%20o%20radu%20IOZZPuBIH%20za%202023.%20godinu.pdf