During her visit, Commissioner Kuneva will meet representatives of BiH authorities to discuss the European integration process and conditions from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and European Partnership, related to the consumer protection as an important part of a functioning market economy, one of the most important EU conditions. Commissioner Kuneva will be interested to learn about consumer protection measures and activities undertaken in BiH. She will also meet representatives of the civil society and discuss their engagement in the European integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As Commissioner Mrs Kuneva has refashioned European Consumer Policy to concentrate on outcomes for citizens, through market price transparency, and a new strategy of empowerment, and effective consumer protection. She is now focussing on a transformation of online shopping and the European retail market. She has reformed European legislation of business to consumer contract law by creating a single set of laws for business and consumers, enshrining rights (guarantees, delivery, withdrawal, information etc) and lowering barriers to cross-border and online trade.
Programme of the visit
Sunday, 30 August 2009
12:30 – 13:30 Meeting with BiH Ombudsman for Consumer Protection Mr Dragan Doko (Ombudsman for Consumer Protection, Kralja Petra Kresimira IV 8/, III floor;)
13:30 – 13:50 Press point
Monday, 31 August 2009
09:30 – 10:15 Meeting with Mr Vilim Primorac, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Chairman of State Commission for Protection of Consumers (Musala 9)
10:30 – 11:30 Meeting with Mr Nikola Spiric, Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers (Trg BiH 1) (photo opportunity)
12:00 – 13:45 Discussion with NGOs on consumer protection and European integration process (EC Delegation to BiH, Skenderija 3a) (all media representatives are invited to cover/attend the event)
14:00 – 14:30 Press conference (EC Delegation, Skenderija 3a, groundfloor)
CV of Commissioner Meglena Kuneva
She is a M.A. in law from the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, followed by post-graduate specialisations on international relations and international environment law in the Georgetown University, Washington DC and Oxford.
She started her career in the Bulgarian national radio as editor and presenter of program on legal issues and assistant in law at the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. For 11 years she is senior legal adviser at the Council of Ministers and participates in the drafting of several proposals in the sphere of environment, civil law, access to information. Since 2001 Meglena Kuneva took the post as Chief negotiator for Bulgaria to the EU and in 2002 became Minister for European Affairs. She presented Bulgaria at the Convention for the Future of Europe. Since 2007 she is a Member of the European Commission and is responsible for Consumer Affairs.
In 2007 Meglena Kuneva was nominated Commissioner of the year by European voice and in 2008 she received the European of the year award by the European Voice and was elected European Commissioner of the year by the European Agenda. Among her distinctions are the Order of Legion d’Honneur of France, Order of Star of Italian Solidarity of Italy, Order of Civil Merit of Spain, Order of Prince Enrique of Portugal, Order pro Merito Melitensi of Malta.
