Cross border spam regulations set by EU

The European Union finally agreed rules on cross-border selling of financial services this week, voting through the distance selling directive at a majority of 14 to one.

The directive outlaws practices such as unsolicited phone calls and emails for credit services, pensions and investments.

Consumer affairs ministers from the 15 EU member states finally agreed a compromise after a battle over when the directive should be introduced. The only member state to vote against the directive was Luxembourg.

EU members have two years to incorporate the new rules into national law.