Minimum implementation of minimum directives? Consumer protection in Austria in the context of European integration

Once the EEA Agreement takes effect, consumer protection rules in Austria will have to conform to EC standards; the same holds true, if and when Austria is admitted to membership of the EC. The paper examines the general background of consumer protection rules in Austria compared to EC legislation, and puts this into the perspective of the Austrian efforts for integration. This is followed by an evaluation of the influence exerted by the EC internal market policy on consumer protection matters in Austria and a treatment of some specific problems concerning the implementation of EC rules in the country, in particular as regards product liability and package travel.