Presentation given during the ICPEN Workshops in Washington May 2010. It explains how enforcement under Consumer Protection Regulation works in Spain bearing in mind our model of state and our constitution.

1. Cross borderenforcement, dreamorreality? Julio Cortés del Olmo

2. “What is a fish without a river? What is a bird without a tree to nest in? What is an Endangered Species Act without any enforcement mechanism to ensure their habitat is protected? It is nothing” Jay Robert Inslee - Democratic American politician

3. 1 CompetencesSystem

5. 17AutonomousGovernments

6. National Law for Consumer Protection Government Regional Lawsfor Consumer Protection AutonomousCommunities

7. 2 CPC case

8. CPC case: furniturecompany Sellingfurniture withoutincluding VAT

9. Office of Fair Trading UK NationalInstitutefor Consumer Protection Spain General Directoratefor Consumer Protection Andalucia

10. 3 Enforcementtools

11. Spanish Law for Consumer Protection: Efficienttools and procedures

12. ArbitrationSystem

13. Sanctions

14. 3.000 Euros Small infractions 15.000 Euros Seriousinfractions 600.000 Euros Veryseriousinfractions

15. CourtAction Collectiveactions: act of cessation

16. 4 Strengths and Weaknesses

17. Strengths 17consumerprotectionauthorities Controleach case Closetocitizens

18. Weaknesses 17consumerprotectionauthorities Representation Languagebarrier

19. Conclussion “I am very pro lawenforcement” Eliott Ness – Theuntouchables

20. Cross borderenforcement, dreamorreality? Julio Cortés del Olmo

21. Questions Networks – cooperation in enforcement? Formal or informal Bilateral - Multilateral? Internal – externalchallenges?