Consumer vulnerability is a complex issue with varried causes and effects. The discussion on consumer vulnerability is therefore gaining traction on the european level. This master's thesis, entitled »The Protection of Vulnerable Consumers in European Private Law« presents how vulnerable consumers are defined and protected in the context of European consumer law, with special emphasis on the understanding of the concept of vulnerability in both theory and practice. The thesis briefly deals with the basis upon which the EU consumer protection law is build upon and explores the many theoretical views on vulnerability and their broader policy implications. A large part of the thesis is dedicated to the analysis and evaluation of the existing vulnerable consumer protection law, first focusing on directives of general consumer law and then on the sectoral directives. From this emerges the conclusion that positive european law is falling behind the predominant theoretical views on the understanding of vulnerability as a
whole and thus does not provide adequate protection to all consumers who may find themselves in a vulnerable position, especially in view of the ever evolving digital markets and the universal danger they present for consumers.
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