1. MEDIA RELEASE
MARY HONEYBALL MEP
Labour DATE 16 September 2009 Tel: +44 (0) 7966280542
Email: holly@journalista.co.uk
http://thehoneyballbuzz.com
London MEP calls for cheaper prices for
goods sold online
Rules preventing goods, such as Gucci and Sony, being sold via online market places
are set to change in face of an international petition, presented at an event hosted by
eBay and London MEP Mary Honeyball, in the European Parliament this Thursday.
The petition responds to a review, being carried out by European law making body the
Commission, looking at anti-internet trade practices that impact online businesses and
may result in higher prices for consumers.
Over 75,000 people signed the petition calling for free-trade on the internet. If the
petition and event are successful then online sellers will be free to sell all goods,
whether Hermes scarfs or Hitachi stereos. A boost for small businesses in times of
economic instability.
Current laws forbid online companies selling a number of products if they do not have
a “brick and mortar shop or showroom” and allows manufacturers to impose a number
of restrictions on the way even every day goods such as prams and bicycles are sold.
Host of the breakfast presentation of eBay!s petition results Mary Honeyball, MEP for
London, said:
"In these tough economic times European customers and businesses need"to be free
to buy and sell all products at the most competitive market"rates available.
“The internet provides a way for us to do this, by"creating equal access to goods and
services across Europe.
“So I"support eBay's call to change outdated European competition laws this"autumn
and enable online retailers to sell all goods no matter whether"they originate from
Asda, Apple or Armani."
ENDS
Notes to editors
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2. Introduction to Conversational French
eBay is Launching an ad campaign the UK and Germany to drive further awareness of
the campaign, eBay said that its petition would remain open until September 28th and
encouraged more European consumers to sign up. The petition can be found at
www.ebaycampaigns.com
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NOTES TO THE EDITOR
"
eBay's petition at www.ebaycampaigns.com was launched on 6 July, 2009. In total,
752,605 people have signed the petition, from the following countries:
"
EU Country ! ! ! ! Signatures
! ! ! ! ! ! !
Austria " " " " " 13,956
Belgium " " " " " 21,972
Bulgaria " " " " " 524
Cyprus " " " " " 348
Czech Republic " " " " 560
Denmark " " " " " 1,059
Estonia " " " " " 153
Finland " " " " " 458
France " " " " " 103,666
Germany " " " " " 200,061
Greece " " " " " 995
Hungary " " " " " 594
Ireland " " " " " 10,325
Italy " " " " " 67,712
Latvia " " " " " 474
Lithuania " " " " " 416
Luxembourg " " " " 755
Malta " " " " " 948
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3. Introduction to Conversational French
Netherlands " " " " 23,143
Poland " " " " " 8,583
Portugal " " " " " 1,714
Romania " " " " " 454
Slovakia " " " " " 357
Slovenia " " " " " 438
Spain " " " " " 29,000
Sweden " " " " " 3,195
United Kingdom " " " " 251,712
" " " " " " "
Total EU " " " " 743,572
Residents
Total EFTA residents " " " 4,364
" " " " " " "
Total European residents ! ! " 747,936
" " " " " " "
Non-European Residents Trading on a European 4,669
eBay site
" " " " " " "
Total Petition Signatures " " " 752,605
"
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