The ECR Group believes that the new EU directive on the repair of goods will create an effective repair market in the European Union to the benefit of all.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg ahead of today’s adoption, ECR shadow rapporteur Beata Mazurek said: “The common rules to promote the repair of goods will have a direct impact on the lives of everyone in the European Union.” She continued: “Imagine if our mobile phone, which we cannot live without, stopped working because of a minor defect. Instead of throwing it away and replacing it with a new one, we should be able to get it repaired, even outside the two-year warranty period. This will not only help the environment, but also people’s wallets and allow them to use expensive equipment for longer”.

For faulty out-of-warranty goods, consumers will have a range of new tools to make repair an accessible option. These tools include an online repair platform to help consumers find suitable repairers, and a European quality standard for repair services that would help consumers identify repairers that meet certain quality standards.

In particular, the ECR Group lobbied for the inclusion of independent repairers in the proposal:

“We will unlock the potential of independent repair services, which are key to reducing the cost of repairing products regardless of the authorised body,” Mazurek explained.

“The legislation introduced will facilitate the provision of cross-border repair services and ensure access to spare parts and technical documentation.

“The new law is an opportunity for entrepreneurs that will increase competition in the repair sector and contribute to better conditions for consumers. We are also extending the warranty by one year after the first repair of a product and introducing a new one-year warranty for repair services,” Mazurek concluded.

The text has been adopted with an overwhelming majority with 590 votes in favour, 15 against, and 15 abstentions.