Today, the newly appointed German Council for consumer policy has assembled for its constituent meeting in Berlin. One of the council’s main tasks will be to point the way to a more evidence-based consumer policy in Germany by providing a continuous overview of the actual situation of German consumers. To this end, it will publish bi-annually a report about the situation of German consumers as well as a report concerning the most important consumers trends and developments.
Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Heiko Maas said: “Consumer policy directly affects all German citizens. Hence, consumer policy must align with the actual needs and expectations that German consumers have. To this end, it needs good advice in order to be able to also focus on the long-term developments. I am sure the new Council for consumer policy will successfully support us in making a consumer policy that is even more suitable, fundamental and forward-looking.“
The nine-member body is made up of both scientists as well industry and civil society representatives to cover a broad scope of expertise in the field of consumer-related topics. The members are appointed for a duration of four years, with the possibility to be re-nominated once.
At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Lucia Reisch was elected as chairmen of the new advisory body. The Council’s members are:
- Dr. Daniela Büchel, member of the executive board of REWE, responsible for HR and sustainability
- Prof. Dr. Gerd Gigerenzer, director of the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development in Berlin
- Prof. Dr. Gesche Joost, design researcher and Internet ambassador of the federal government in the EU club of „Digital Champions“
- Prof. Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Micklitz, Dean at the European University Institute and head of the Institute for Economic Law
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Oehler, head of the Institute of Finance at Bamberg University, director of the research center for consumer finance and consumer literacy
- Prof. Dr. Lucia A. Reisch, Copenhagen Business School as well as Zeppelin University of Friedrichshafen, director of the research center for consumer, market and policy
- Prof. Dr. Kirsten Schlegel-Matthies, head of Institute for Nutrition, Consumption and Health at the University of Paderborn
- Helga Springeneer, head of division “Consumer Policy” at the Federation of German Consumer Organizations
- Prof. Dr. Gert G. Wagner, professor of Economics at the Berlin University of Technology (TUB), member of the Executive Board of DIW Berlin, Max Planck Fellow at the MPI for Human Development (Berlin) and member of the "National Academy of Science and Engineering
Further information can be found here.
Source: BMJV