A directive on contracts for the supply of digital content has been adopted by the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee and the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

The new directive will aim to harmonise the standard set of digital contract law rules on contracts between businesses and consumers.

This is considered an important step towards eliminating the barriers that hinder cross-border on-line trade and defining rules that protect consumers in the digital environment.

The legislation will further increase the confidence of European consumers when they use internet to buy something from another member state.

It is another step in achieving the real-functioning digital single market.

“Different national legislation often prevents cross-border trade. The new directive will further enhance the consumers’ position when using mobile or other digital applications,” co-rapporteur for the dossier, MEP Axel Voss said.

MEP Eva Maydell, who is responsible for the dossier in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee on behalf of the EPP Group said that with the fall of some of the barriers between national online markets in Europe, the role of consumers changed dramatically.

“The ability for everyone to freely offer products without the restriction of territory and location creates a new planet of opportunities.

“This is why today's vote is key for enabling consumers to truly benefit from a harmonised set of rules of consumer protection when purchasing digital content or service.”

The directive will also provide clarity for traders as to what their responsibilities are.