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Groundbreaking Commission proposal to ban hormone-disrupting chemicals in toys must become law — 29 July 2023, 00:01 CET

The European Commission today proposed to phase out hormone-disrupting chemicals from toys. If this becomes law, it would be the first time ever - worldwide - that both known and suspected hormone-disrupting chemicals are banned from an entire product group.

Cybersecurity of connected consumer products insufficiently addressed by EU Parliament — 19 July 2023, 23:02 CET

The European Parliament's Industry Committee (ITRE) in the lead for the Cyber Resilience Act, a proposal to set minimum cybersecurity requirements for connected products, has, through today’s vote, tightened some obligations for manufacturers, but ultimately failed to tackle all its major blind spots.

Sustainable products soon the norm thanks to EU Parliament vote but online sellers off the hook — 19 July 2023, 23:00 CET

The European Parliament voted on 12 July to make sustainable products the norm on the EU market, banning early obsolescence and destruction of unsold textiles and electronics. The Parliament adopted its position on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This ambitious position strengthens the Commission’s proposal but lacks strong measures to hold online marketplaces accountable.

SME State of the Union: call for a strong SME Relief Package — 13 July 2023, 17:24 CET

SMEunited welcomes the united call of the European Parliament Plenary session for concrete measures to ensure a regulatory framework in which SMEs can develop their businesses. Two months ahead of the publication of the SME Relief Package, the adopted resolution sets the tone for efficient legislation.

Retail and wholesale welcome Parliament mandate on Eco-design — 12 July 2023, 23:22 CET

EuroCommerce - the association representing retailers and wholesalers in Europe - supports the European Parliament’s draft report on Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation which will be voted on for final approval in plenary on 12 July.

Weber fails to derail EU Green Deal, but Parliament agrees to a weakened Nature Restoration Law — 12 July 2023, 17:44 CET

Today, the European Parliament voted in favour of the Nature Restoration Law and the EU Green Deal, despite an unprecedented - and often outright absurd - disinformation campaign aiming to destroy it, led by conservative and right-wing politicians and agriculture and fisheries lobbies.

New Commission proposal falls short in boosting GDPR enforcement — 07 July 2023, 23:38 CET

A European Commission proposal published on 4 July which should have led to speedier and more effective cross-border enforcement of the EU's signature law on data protection - the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - is unlikely to be of much help to consumers. The European Parliament and Member States have to substantially amend it to truly improve cross-border enforcement and improve complainants’ rights.

Most wildlife crimes in Europe go unpunished or undetected, says a brand-new report — 06 July 2023, 00:32 CET

Wildlife crime is devastating for endangered European species and a growing risk to our societies’ economic development and security, but most cases still go unpunished or undetected.

Retailers and wholesalers weigh in on waste framework directive: Request harmonisation for textiles and action by everyone linked to food waste — 06 July 2023, 00:27 CET

Today, the European Commission published a proposal for a revision of textiles and food waste aspects of the EU Waste Framework Directive. Retailers and wholesalers see the update of the waste legislation as necessary to enable the sustainable transformation of their sector and to achieve the objectives of the Green Deal.

Rule of law in the EU is a key asset for investment protection and competition — 06 July 2023, 00:23 CET

The Commission published its fourth Rule of Law report. This report will help the Commission to enter into conversations with Member States and discuss existing Rule of Law issues.

EU's Internal Market Committee votes for protecting encryption in the CSA Regulation — 29 June 2023, 23:10 CET

Today, 29 June, the European Union's Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee becomes the fourth European Parliament Committee to adopt an opinion on the European Union Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Regulation, voting to protect encryption and rule out unacceptably risky technologies. Their position must be taken into account in the final position of the lead Civil Liberties (LIBE) committee.

Digital Euro: Retailers and wholesalers generally supportive but have crucial concerns — 29 June 2023, 23:03 CET

As the legislative proposal to enable the digital euro was published on 28 June, and the investigation phase of the digital euro is progressing towards a decision later in 2023, the retail and wholesale sector voices its general support while also highlighting some key concerns.

EU proposals focus on consumer needs for the future of digital payments and finance — 28 June 2023, 23:00 CET

The European Commission published an ambitious package of measures today that have the potential to improve consumer conditions in payments and digitalised financial services. There are proposals on a digital Euro (while maintaining access to cash), steps to tackle payment fraud and on protecting consumers' data in Open Finance.

SMEunited launches "SME claims" analysis — 28 June 2023, 23:00 CET

SMEunited launches "SME claims" analysis to review decision-makers’ claims and will call for alteration if claims cannot be concretised.

Little in EU's Data Act for consumers — 28 June 2023, 22:51 CET

New rules agreed at EU level yesterday, which could have given consumers more protection and better rights to decide what happens to data they generate through their use of connected products, are a missed opportunity.

Consumer groups call on regulators to investigate generative AI risks & enforce existing legislation — 21 June 2023, 00:02 CET

Consumer groups from 13 European countries are alerting their national authorities to launch urgent investigations into the risks of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, and to enforce existing legislation to protect consumers.

Inaction on EU-UK electric vehicle trade could cost €4.3bn and hit production, EU auto makers warn — 20 June 2023, 23:56 CET

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) is calling for a three-year postponement to restrictive rules on EU-UK electric vehicle trade, set to come into force in just six months. Otherwise, tariffs could total €4.3 billion, potentially reducing electric vehicle production by some 480,000 units.

Member States to European Parliament: Europe needs a Nature Restoration Law now! — 20 June 2023, 23:51 CET

EU countries, which will be in charge of implementing the Nature Restoration Law, come out in favour of the law and send a strong signal to the opposition in the European Parliament.

EU Scientific Advisory Board advice vindicates NGO calls for much more radical climate action by 2040 — 16 June 2023, 00:34 CET

Today the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) called for a 90-95% cut in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU by 2040 in its latest report, and suggested a GHG budget of just 11 to 14 Gt CO2e between 2030 and 2050 (EU emissions in 2021 were 3.6 Gt).

EU Parliament approves strengthened protections for consumers on AI — 14 June 2023, 19:14 CET

The European Parliament has today beefed-up protections for consumers in what will be the world’s first mandatory set of comprehensive rules on AI systems. This is a welcome development. Negotiations between the Parliament and national governments can now start, with a view to agreeing a final text in the second half of the year and the AI Act becoming EU law.

EU Commission shows readiness to break up Google's ad business: good news for consumers — 14 June 2023, 19:09 CET

BEUC welcomes the European Commission's preliminary view that only the mandatory divestment by Google of part of its online advertising services would address concerns that Google abused its dominant position.

EU Parliament calls for ban of public facial recognition, but leaves human rights gaps in final position on AI Act — 14 June 2023, 19:05 CET

Today, June 14, the European Parliament plenary voted in favour of strong fundamental rights protections in their official position on the Artificial Intelligence Act, including maintaining positive steps on fundamental rights impact assessments and transparency requirements.

SME priorities for European Elections 2024 — 11 June 2023, 00:32 CET

SME representatives from across Europe agreed on their priorities for the 2024 European elections at the SMEunited General Assembly in Stockholm today. The European Institutions must consider the specific characteristics of small- and medium-sized companies to let them drive the green and digital transition, say SMEunited members.

BEUC acts against social media platforms for facilitating misleading crypto asset promotion — 08 June 2023, 23:39 CET

Today BEUC and nine of its members (in Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain) filed a complaint with the European Commission and consumer authorities against Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter for facilitating the misleading promotion of crypto assets.

Pay Transparency Directive requires implementation that is mindful of regulatory burden — 07 June 2023, 23:36 CET

As the Pay Transparency Directive comes into force today, EuroCommerce expresses concerns that, despite its laudable aim to ensure every employee is valued and treated equally, retailers and wholesalers, especially SMEs, are likely to face more regulatory burden especially if national implementation varies across the Single Market.