Today, commissioner Meglena Kuneva presented the first-ever EU Consumer Champion Award in celebration of European Consumer Day, which will be honoured on March 15. Finland took the main award for its dynamic online game that teaches young consumers the rights and responsibilities of online shopping. Ireland, the UK, Hungary, Estonia and Norway were given special awards for their innovative and effective campaigns furthering consumer rights.
European Consumer Centres (ECCs) coordinated the contest on a national level. In their unique ways, the winning campaigns encourage consumers to know their rights and use them in their daily activities. A wide range of themes and practices was used to convey this message.
The winners were chosen by an independent jury, and the most original, relevant and effective campaigns were awarded.
The first prize was awarded to Finland (Finnish Consumer Agency) for its campaign “The Galactor and the Code-breakers” teaching young consumers the rights and responsibilities of internet and mobile phone shopping in a modern and inspiring online game. In response to a successful campaign, the game has now been distributed to other member states as well.
For its campaign “Consumer Challenge Quiz,” the UK took home the award for the most unique campaign. The quiz was developed to help young people with learning difficulties become better informed and more confident consumers. Ireland was awarded the prize for the best financial campaign, which promotes a web site for information on personal finance, with the aim of helping consumers make more conscious decisions when it comes to money. Hungary designed the best children’s campaign, a nationwide drawing contest for primary schools with three consumer-related themes.
The jury awarded an honourable mention to Norway for an iTunes campaign and to Estonia for its campaign to raise public awareness of the need to borrow money wisely, an initiative by a private bank.
Commissioner Kuneva will personally meet all national winners at an official award ceremony held in Brussels (Galeries de la Reine) today afternoon. A press conference will be held at 2pm and all campaigns will be presented to the public. The exhibition will be open March 10–12.
For more information on the winners and national campaigns, visit this site:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecd/index_en.htm
Contact: Helen Kearns +32 2 2987638
For more information: Director Leena Lindström, The European Consumer Centre Finland, tel. +358 9 7726 7826