Povzetek: Trgovina je verjetno stara toliko kot človeštvo. Na potrošnike in podjetja vpliva na različne načine, na primer prek povečanja produktivnosti in sektorske prerazporeditve proizvodnje, kar učinkuje na zaposlovanje, plače in cene, pa tudi posredno prek izboljšav kakovosti in večje ponudbe izdelkov. Vendar so bili potrošniki doslej večinoma obravnavani kot objekti, in ne kot subjekti mednarodne trgovine. To se z globalizacijo in digitalizacijo, zlasti z e-poslovanjem, spreminja. V članku je preučeno, kako so pravice potrošnikov obravnavane v okviru zunanjega delovanja EU, zlasti v njeni trgovinski politiki. V ta namen so preučene pristojnosti in prednostne naloge EU v okviru zunanjega delovanja ter potreba po spodbujanju ekonomskih in neekonomskih vidikov globalnega delovanja EU na področju varstva potrošnikov.
Ključne besede: zunanje delovanje EU, trgovinska politika, potrošniki, varstvo potrošnikov, mednarodni sporazumi, e-poslovanje
Abstract: Trade is arguably as old as humanity. It affects consumers and undertakings in different ways, such as productivity gains and sectorial reallocation of production affecting employment, wages and prices, and also indirectly through quality improvements and more product varieties. However, so far consumers have been mostly seen as objects, not subjects, of international trade. This is changing with globalisation and digitalisation, especially through e-commerce. The paper analyses how consumer rights are addressed in the EU's external action, especially its trade policy. To this end, it will examine the EU's competence and priorities in its external action and the need for reliance on both the economic and non-economic aspects of the EU's global reach in consumer protection.
Keywords: EU's external action, trade, consumers, consumer protection, international agreements, e-commerce
