Under Article 169 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, consumer policy aims to protect the health, safety and interests of almost half a billion potential consumers, who play a vital economic and political role in society

The creation of the area of freedom, security and justice derives from Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Articles 67–89). The area was created to ensure the absence of border control at internal borders while offering a high level of protection to citizens.

The European Union (EU) is built on fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Indeed, according to Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union: ‘The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.