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It is with great pleasure that I address today's event organised by our Ministry on the occasion of "World Consumer Day". As is well known, March 15 was established as such by a resolution of the United Nations, in commemoration of a monumental speech delivered to Congress on March 15, 1962, by U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Consumers, according to President Kennedy, are perhaps the largest economic unit that influences, and is influenced by, almost every public or private economic decision. He stressed, therefore, that the consumer is not a weak person who must be protected, but the most important person in the world.
Today's event aims precisely to raise awareness of the rights, obligations and needs of consumers, and to highlight the important role that the modern consumer plays in the development and prosperity of our society.
To the economic and social challenges that consumers face on a daily basis, the serious consequences of the global financial crisis have been added in recent years.
Today's event aims precisely to raise awareness of the rights, obligations and needs of consumers, and to highlight the important role that the modern consumer plays in the development and prosperity of our society. For every household, higher prices of goods and services, energy costs and high interest rates erode the purchasing power of wages and savings, affecting vulnerable groups of citizens in particular.
The Government and in particular the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, listening to the difficulties faced by consumers, remain committed to finding solutions and targeted support measures. Our key consideration and priority is the introduction of cheap energy so that businesses and consumers can be helped substantially. At the same time, we are actively promoting the use of Renewable Sources and Energy Saving, with the recent launch of sponsorship for "Photovoltaics for All" being a very positive development for consumers. Our aim is to enable as many domestic consumers as possible to generate their own energy through the installation of a photovoltaic system.
At this point, allow me to touch on two more of the important policies of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry for the benefit of consumers, the first being the implementation of the "e-kalathi" digital platform. As we have already announced, "e-kalathi" will provide the necessary transparency and daily information on the prices of important products for a household, as well as the ability to compare shopping basket prices with the most advantageous options.
In addition, following and approval by the Cabinet of Ministers last week, we are forwarding to the House of Representatives a Bill entitled "The Law on Determination of Maximum Retail Prices of Products at Specific Points of Sale of 2024". This new law will enable the Minister to set maximum retail prices for basic food commodities at specific points of sale where, by definition, sufficient competition cannot develop.
I also note the important synergies between government agencies to effectively shield and protect the interests of consumers and, in particular, the case of the Ministries of Energy and Finance for a zero rate of VAT on 11 categories of essential products, applicable from 5 May By way of example, in 2023, 5 major information campaigns, 50 lectures in schools and 26.5 thousand on-site inspections were carried out, and 900 written recommendations were made to businesses.
In addition, 50 lectures were conducted in businesses as part of the intensification of the Consumer Protection Service's efforts to educate and inform our businesses, with the aim of zero fines and full implementation of the legislation, protecting both consumers and businesses themselves.
Friends,
Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Consumers has been chosen as a topic of discussion in this year's celebration of World Consumer Day. It is therefore, together with the problems posed by accuracy, the main focus of the discussions that will take place during this conference.
At a time when AI is playing an increasingly important role in business development, decision-making and the processing of consumer data, it is essential to ensure that AI technologies are developed and used ethically, respecting and protecting the rights of consumers. As long as these basic conditions are met, AI can contribute to a more innovative, efficient, sustainable and competitive economy, while improving safety, education and healthcare for citizens.
To this end, the EU AI Act is the first piece of legislation of its kind in the world, which, according to the European Council, is a comprehensive "regulatory framework designed to ensure that AI systems are safe and that they respect EU legislation, fundamental rights and values".
In closing my greeting to today's Consumer Day, I would like to assure everyone that the State will continue to lead and support actions and initiatives that promote the defence of consumers' rights, always taking into account their specific circumstances and the problems they experience.
Thank you for your attention and I wish you every success in the proceedings of today's event.
(GA)
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