The European Parliament on 23 April officially adopted the directive on the right to repair. A large majority of MEPs – 584 out of a total of 705 members – voted in favour. The vote was the final step in a process that has been ongoing for several years. The European Parliament already reached a preliminary agreement on the issue in early February.

The adopted text was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 10 July. Member states now have two years to turn it into a law in their own countries.

Repair Cafés mentioned by name three times

In the European legal text, Repair Cafés are mentioned by name three times. All times it is in connection with the European online platform to connect consumers and repairers. That platform should primarily ensure that consumers can find professional repairers. “But, in order to promote sustainable consumption, member states should be able to extend the scope of their section on this European platform to include […] community-led repair initiatives, such as Repair Cafés.”

The platform should therefore also allow consumers to find a Repair Café in their neighbourhood. Repairers listed on the platform should be able to demonstrate their adherence to “certain repair standards”. What exactly those standards are is not specified.

‘Experienced repairers who repair items together with you’

Martine Postma of Repair Café International anticipates a possible description of the repair standards that Repair Cafés adhere to. “In the case of Repair Cafés, it could say that you will find skilled and experienced repairers there who – on a voluntary basis and with an eye for safety – do everything they can to repair broken objects together with you. They also give advice on how to handle and maintain items.”

Member states must also take additional measures to promote repair under the new European agreements. The text cites several examples of financial and non-financial measures that could be taken. Again, it refers to initiatives such as Repair Cafés. “Measures of non-financial nature could include information campaigns or support to community-led repair initiatives, for example by providing space in community or cultural centres.”

Trainings to teach more people to repair

Among financial measures, it is suggested that member states can opt for repair vouchers, repair funds or taxation measures. In addition, they can organise or finance training programmes to ensure that more people learn repair skills.

More information

• Read the European Parliament press release on the vote on 23 April 2024
• Read the exact text adopted
• Read our news article from early February on the preliminary agreement w.r.t. the right to repair
• Read the text in the Official Journal of the European Union

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Extra year warranty after a repair

According to an EU press release, the new law makes it more appealing for consumers to have broken items repaired. For instance, manufacturers will soon be obliged to have broken items that are still under warranty repaired if the customer wishes this. When the warranty has expired, manufacturers must offer repair as an option – at a reasonable price and within a timely manner. Furthermore, products will receive an extra year of warranty after a repair. At the same time, consumers still retain the right to opt for a new product if it breaks within the warranty period.

A European repair form should provide clear information on conditions, prices, deadlines, etc. The use of this standard form will not be compulsory but optional. There will also be a European online platform to help consumers and repairers connect.

No restrictions on using second-hand or 3D-printed parts

Under the new law, manufacturers must make spare parts available at a reasonable price to all parties involved in repair. Also, they must refrain from preventing independent repairers from using second-hand or 3D-printed parts.

The Agreement says nothing about other items essential in repair, such as repair manuals and specific tools. The European Parliament wanted all these items, in addition to spare parts, to be made available to all repairers and the actual end-users; including Repair Café repairers.

The Agreement is vague on the cost of repairs

The Agreement remains vague on the cost of these repairs. What constitutes a ‘reasonable price’ can be interpreted in various ways by different parties. Furthermore, it states that manufacturers must provide the repair form free of charge while simultaneously allowing them to charge consumers for diagnosis. Finally, the Agreement does not address the European Parliament’s wish that more countries follow Austria and France’s example to create repair vouchers and other financial benefits to make repairs more appealing.

For now, the right to repair only applies to a few product categories: washing machines, dryers, bicycles, refrigerators, welding equipment, screens, servers, smartphones/tablets and vacuum cleaners. That list may be extended with new products at a later date.

Martine Postma: “Repair Cafés remain necessary as low-threshold help for problems with items.”

Repair Cafés remain needed as front-line help for problems with items

Immediately after the news about the right-to-repair law appeared, several Repair Cafés received visits from journalists wanting to know whether Repair Cafés would still be needed. Martine Postma of Repair Café International has no doubt they will. “Repair Cafés remain necessary as low-threshold front-line help for problems with items. It is great that we will soon be able to take a broken vacuum cleaner to a professional repairman for a reasonable amount. But in many cases, this is not even necessary. Repair Cafés get a lot of vacuum cleaners that have lost some suction power. Often, there is simply a clog in the hose or a filter that needs replacing. Or, even simpler: that it needs a new dust bag. With such issues, you do not want to trouble a professional repairer.”

Martine hopes and even expects that the Right to Repair Act will attract more professional repairers. “I see these as an essential enrichment of the repair infrastructure. So, it is an addition to the Repair Cafés, not a replacement. In the Repair Café, you see that repairing is a great option. You get help with simple repairs and advice on how to take care of an item. With their help and maintenance advice, you can significantly extend a product’s life. And, when something major is wrong, the professional repairman will step in. That’s how it should be.”

More information

• Read the press release of the Council of the European Union on the Right to Repair Agreement
• More on the European Parliament’s wishes regarding the right to repair
• Read the response of the lobbying organisation Right to Repair Europe

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Spare parts and repair information also available for Repair Cafés

The EP believes that not only professional, branded repairers should have access to spare parts, repair information and tools needed to fix broken items. Independent repairers, refurbishers and end-users should also benefit, at a fair price. In the EP views, these advantages would also extend to Repair Cafés.

Extra year warranty and more repair vouchers

The MEPs further want to extend the statutory warranty period for products by an extra year after a repair. In this way, consumers will be rewarded by additional warranty for choosing to have a product repaired. How long the legal warranty period is varies between EU member states.

But also for products that break down after the warranty period, the parliament wants to give additional incentives to make repairs, by, for instance, allowing consumers to get a replacement device on loan for the duration of the repair. Professional repairs should also become more affordable for consumers. To achieve this, the European Parliament wants more countries to follow the example of countries like Austria and France and create repair vouchers and other financial benefits.

On 21 November, the European Parliament agreed on the above tightening measures. However, this doesn’t mean that these measures will take immediate effect. The parliament must still negotiate the final content of the law on the right to repair with the Council of the European Union, which includes national ministers from all member states. On 22 November, the Council also released its ideas on the right to repair.

‘Great if Repair Café volunteers have the advantages professional repairers have’

Martine Postma of Repair Café International hopes the proposed tightening will be included in the new law. “This would allow our volunteers to repair better, and they would no longer be disadvantaged compared to professional repairers. That would be great. If we want to make repairing more appealing, that is an absolute prerequisite.”

Martine does point out that, for the time being, the right to repair will only apply to a small number of product groups, namely only dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, bicycles, refrigerators, welding equipment, screens, servers, smartphones/tablets and vacuum cleaners.

More information

• Read our article on the European Commission’s right to repair proposals;
• Read the European Parliament’s press release on the proposed reinforcement;
• Watch MEP René Repasi’s press conference on the subject;
• Read the reaction of lobby organisation Right to Repair Europe;
• Read the Council of the European Union’s ideas on the right to repair.

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The plan also requires online platforms in all EU countries to connect consumers with repairers and sellers of repaired goods near them.

Cheap products excluded from the scheme

The plan has been met with criticism.

Martine Postma of Repair Cafe International is happy that there will finally be more focus on repair, but immediately points out the limitations of the proposal. “Mandatory opting for repair, except when it is more expensive than offering a new product? There you go already. That immediately leaves out a whole range of low-cost products.”

She explains why. “Repair is manual work, where you mainly pay for labour. Let’s say a repairman costs 45 euros an hour; then you’ll understand that repair with this scheme will never be an option for a 13-euro kettle, or a 7-euro battery-powered milk frother. That while precisely these kinds of cheap products often break down quickly.”

Pity: repair manuals will not be made public

Martine therefore regrets that the proposal does not oblige manufacturers to make repair manuals public. “Then Repair Cafes and ordinary consumers would be able to repair those kinds of products much better and thus use them for longer.”

Right to Repair Europe is also critical. The lobby organisation speaks of a missed opportunity to achieve a universal right to repair. “This proposal does not address the burning issues of affordability of repair and of anti-repair practices.”

Bright spot: recognition for civic initiatives such as Repair Cafes

Yet Right to Repair Europe also sees bright spots. For instance, in the paragraph on online repair platforms, the European Commission explicitly writes that these need not only focus on professional repairers, but can be extended to include community-led repair initiatives.

“We welcome this proposal as a first step to support citizens looking for repair options or circular venues for their old devices. This is also an important step towards recognising the role of independent repairers, and giving them access to parts and information”, Right to Repair Europe writes on their website.

According to the European Commission, online repair platforms may also highlight community-led repair initiatives, such as Repair Cafes

More information

• Download the European Commission’s proposal on the right to repair (31 pages);
• Read the European Commission’s press release;
• View the response from Right to Repair Europe;
• Read our previous coverage on the right to repair in the EU.

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