Consumer rights and protection have always been a key pillar of the EU, enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and cascaded through policies in a range of areas from food safety standards to data protection legislation. Consumer protection is also an essential part of strategic and forward planning. This is further evidenced by the 2012 Consumer Agenda set by the Commission, which points to key areas for improvement that will - Improving the regulatory framework on product and service safety - Improving the knowledge of consumers - Effective enforcement of consumer laws, and providing efficient dispute resolution mechanisms To help realise these goals, a new Directive on Consumer Rights came into force in June 2014, which provides for stronger rights and protection for consumers shopping online, particularly in relation to cooling-off periods, refund rights, eliminating hidden fees and charges and increasing price transparency.