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Current work

The Euro

The Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) has no policy on whether the UK should enter the euro zone or not. Assessing the risks, costs and benefits has to have its focus on all citizens in the UK and is not within our competence. However, if the UK does agree to join the euro, then how the changeover is introduced and the transition managed will have important implications for consumers in Scotland.

Consumer focus

A consumer focus will be vital in ensuring that any process of transition to the euro zone is well planned, and gives clear protection and information to consumers. This means ensuring that the consumer interest is identified and acted upon. Consumers should be empowered to take an active part in the planning and delivery of change. They need to be protected from unfair commercial practices and they must have effective recourse to redress when things go wrong.

The SCC has published a report on Preparing for the Euro in Scotland, with the aim of:

Informing decision makers and providers of goods and services in all sectors about consumer concerns in the key aspects of any transition to the euro.
Highlighting issues of consumer interest which effective transition will need to address.
Encouraging and develop dialogue and partnership among the broad range of key stakeholders in Scotland with the aim of ensuring that any changeover to the euro benefits us all.

The SCC is represented on both the Scottish Euro Preparations Committee, and the Treasury's Euro Preparations Consumer Working Group.

HM Treasury Euro Page