On Thursday night, the European Parliament, the Commission, and the Council reached a compromise on the directive concerning the so-called “right to repair.” This regulation is a response to the growing challenges associated with discarding products due to defects that could easily be repaired, and aims to maximize the lifespan of products and the value consumers get for their money. The European Parliament’s shadow rapporteur for the ECR Group was PiS MEP Beata Mazurek.
The regulation focuses on expanding the availability of replacement parts and access to repair services. The new rules are aligned with other EU legislation establishing minimum requirements for repairs and ensure that consumers are better informed about the durability of the products they purchase.
Beata Mazurek successfully negotiated a reduction in bureaucratic requirements that could have increased repair costs and hindered the provision of repair services. In addition, the legislation addresses the future increase in demand for repairs by improving the availability of replacement parts and services provided by independent repair technicians.
New benefits for consumers also include an extension of the statutory warranty by 12 months following the first repair of a product during the warranty period. The introduction of additional improvements, such as a voluntary “repair form” and provisions to prevent restrictions on cross-border repair services, represents an important step toward achieving the EKR’s strategic goals.
“The implementation of the directive will translate into savings for the average consumer and unlock the potential of DIY enthusiasts. Furthermore, we have succeeded in steering further work in this area toward considering a warranty for repair services. However, that is still ahead of us,” concluded the ECR shadow rapporteur.
