European Commissioner's visit to Malta

I thank Isabel Depasquale for inviting me to the launch of the EU Information Campaign on consumer rights in Malta. The EU Commissioner Responsible for Consumers, Ms Meglena Kuneva, and Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea addressed a press conference, which was chaired by Dr Joanna Drake, Head of the European Commission Representation in Malta.

After refreshments at St James Cavalier, Ms Kuneva and Mr Galea formally inaugurated the new European Consumer Centre in South Street, Valletta. It was a pleasure listening to a speech by Ms Kuneva, who assumed the Consumer Protection portfolio last January when Bulgaria became a European state. As she aptly put it: "My message to the Maltese people who form part of more than 500 million consumers in the EU is only one - Know your rights."

In my capacity as author of this column, I'm always willing and happy to keep consumers informed. In this spirit, I take the opportunity to highlight the eight internationally recognised consumer rights, namely the right to:

1. Consumer education
2. Satisfaction of basic needs
3. Safety
4. Information
5. Choice
6. Representation
7. Redress
8. A healthy environment