CYIL vol. 16 (2025)

RADKA MacGREGOR PELIKÁNOVÁ a unique identity and a link leading to the DPP, i.e., a digital file with detailed information about a product’s life. This is the policy vision which was projected in the legislations. 2. Gradually broader and stronger legislative development towards ESPR – DPP as a sharp sword The over four decades long history of the EU consumer protection started with the Directive 93/13/EEC on unfair terms in consumer contracts (“Unfair Contract Terms Directive”), 25 which has been amended and is still valid. This shows that the protection of consumers from unfair terms and conditions in contracts for goods and services is still relevant and that the good faith is not automatic in B2C relationships. Interestingly, the sister instrument, Directive 98/6/EC on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers (Price Indication Directive), 26 has been amended and is still valid also. So, both unfairness and price misinformation, if not disinformation, are not the past, but rather the present problem. Consequently, the modern consumer protection regime in EU law is founded upon these two classic Directives complemented by an additional three critically important Directives: 27 Directive 2005/29/EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer (B2C) commercial practices in the internal market, i.e., Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (“UCPD”), 28 Directive 2006/114/EC concerning misleading and comparative advertising (“Advertising Directive”) 29 and Directive 2011/83/ EU on consumer rights (“Consumer Rights Directive”). 30 The UCPD crossed the Rubicon by moving from the fragmented and rather minimal traditional harmonization to systemic full harmonization 31 while clashing with conceptual disparities in EU Member State laws. 32 25 Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts [online]. In EUR Lex. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31993L0013&q id=1714464894357 5. 26 Directive 98/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers [online]. In EUR-Lex. Available from: https:// eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31998L0006. 27 MacGREGOR PELIKÁNOVÁ, R. Harmonization of the protection against misleading commercial practices: ongoing divergences in Central European countries. Oeconomia Copernicana , 2019, 10(2), 239–252. http:// dx.doi.org/10.24136/oc.2019.012. 28 Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market[online]. In EUR-Lex. Available from: https:// eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32005L0029&qid=1695126831241. 29 Directive 2006/114/EC of the European Parliament and o the Council of 12 December 2006 Concerning Misleading and Comparative Advertising[online]. In EUR-Lex. Available from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32006L0114. 30 Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on consumer rights. [online]. In EUR-Lex. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A320 11L0083&qid=1695281718275. 31 MacGREGOR PELIKÁNOVÁ, R. New pro-sustainability consumer protection directive – the conceptual foundation of the Right to Repair in the current EU law? Czech Yearbook of International Law – CYIL , 2024, 15, 165–174. 32 OSUJI, O.K. Business-to-consumer Harassment, Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the UK- A Distorted Picture of Uniform Harmonisation? Journal of Consumer Policy, 2011, 34: 437. http://dx.doi. org/10.1007/s10603-011-9175-4.

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