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European Consumers' Organisation

BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation, acts as the umbrella group in Brussels for its members and its main task is to represent them at European level and defend the interests of all Europe's consumers. BEUC investigates EU decisions and developments likely to affect consumers, with a special focus on five areas identified as priorities by its members: Financial Services, Food, Digital Rights, Consumer Rights & Enforcement and Sustainability.

EU climate proposals promise consumers a fossil fuel-free, healthy, and affordable future 14 July 2021, 18:17 CET
Consumers are set to benefit directly from a series of EU measures presented today by the European Commission to fight climate change. The proposals are part of the EU's 'Fit for 55 Package,' the first major milestone in the delivery of the EU's Green Deal. That being said, consumer groups are sceptical about a proposed emissions trading system for road transport and housing.

EU sustainable finance plans overshadowed by labelling of gas as a 'green investment' 06 July 2021, 17:20 CET
Today, the European Commission proposed its Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy, setting out how it intends to make the bloc's financial system more sustainable. Despite some welcome initiatives, the Commission's green investment labelling plans are heading dangerously in the wrong direction.

EU makes first, significant, step towards better product safety law 01 July 2021, 12:03 CET
The European Commission today presented a proposal to reform the bloc's main product safety law, called the General Product Safety Directive [1]. Consumer groups welcome that the Commission proposes to improve the law in light of today's product safety challenges, while retaining the spirit and strong points of the existing law.

Major Commission proposal to revamp Consumer Credit Directive to the benefit of consumers 30 June 2021, 18:48 CET
Consumers are set to gain much-needed extra protections when they take out a loan, according to proposals the European Commission published today. With many consumers still feeling the financial effects of COVID-19, BEUC praises these added protections, which come just at the right time.

Electric cars already cheapest option today for many consumers, new study finds 28 April 2021, 21:01 CET
A medium-sized electric car bought today is already the most financially interesting solution over the car’s lifetime, research by BEUC and nine of its national member organisations reveals. Our research also finds that electric cars are the most ‘equitable’ engine on the market.

EU green finance plans risk becoming greenwashing tool for climate-harming investments 21 April 2021, 22:16 CET
The EU Taxonomy – the bloc's classification system to define which investments can be called 'sustainable' – risks becoming little more than a greenwashing tool following the inclusion of climate-harming practices in sectors like forestry and bio energy. These plans are set to undermine the EU's Green Deal – supposed to make the EU a frontrunner in the climate fight – and prevent Europe delivering on its climate goals.

EU report on unsafe product notifications demonstrates need for legal reform 03 March 2021, 00:10 CET
In 2020, more than 2,200 notifications of non-food products were made to the EU’s rapid alert system (SafetyGate) as failing safety requirements. The European Commission revealed this today in its annual report.

EU Cancer Plan rightly puts healthy diets centre stage 03 February 2021, 23:35 CET
Today, the European Commission has unveiled a new plan to turn the tide against cancer. Unhealthy diets as well as overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for cancer.

Google’s Fitbit takeover: EU merger control proves unable to protect consumers in the digital economy 18 December 2020, 16:51 CET
BEUC, representing the interests of consumers in 32 European countries, deeply regrets that the European Commission's decision to approve Google's takeover of wearable fitness device company Fitbit lacks enough force to protect consumers, now and in the future.

EU plans on digital economy are step in right direction but more ambition is needed 15 December 2020, 21:06 CET
The European Commission today put forward its plans to update the EU’s rules about digital services such as those offered by online search companies (e.g. Google), e-shops (e.g. Amazon) and social networks (e.g. Facebook).

EU takes first step in translating Green Deal to better mobility for people's daily lives 09 December 2020, 18:47 CET
The success of the EU's promising mobility strategy, unveiled today, will depend on legislative follow-up that should make it easier to travel from A to B in a sustainable manner. The most important points for European consumers are the announcement of:

EU unveils ambitious Pharma Strategy to make medicines affordable and available for consumers 25 November 2020, 16:55 CET
The EU Commission published its Pharmaceutical Strategy today, aiming to ensure patients timely access to safe and affordable treatment and to support medical innovation and pharma competitiveness.

Consumer groups welcome new EU consumer policy strategy for the next five years 13 November 2020, 16:51 CET
Today the European Commission adopted the "Consumer Agenda", its consumer policy strategy for the next five years. It lays down the Commission's consumer policy objectives and will serve as guidance to include consumer interests in all policy areas. Focus areas are the green and digital transition as well as the post-COVID economic recovery.

Consumers place high hopes on EU gearing up fight against harmful chemicals 14 October 2020, 14:28 CET
The EU has announced concrete steps to better protect consumers against harmful chemicals - to which they are exposed night and day from multiple sources. That is the gist of the long-awaited Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, published today by the EU Commission.

Seven Member States oppose ambitious EU plans to help consumers eat healthier food 21 September 2020, 18:29 CET
A group of seven EU Member States are trying to scupper plans for an EU-wide nutritional label.

Survey: Consumers see potential of artificial intelligence but raise serious concerns 07 September 2020, 16:35 CET
According to a survey conducted by consumer groups in nine EU countries published today, consumers believe that artificial intelligence (AI) can bring benefits. However, when asked to evaluate the added value of a number of specific services which already today use AI technology - e.g. home virtual assistants or advertisement on e-commerce sites - most respondents are not convinced.

BEUC reports major airlines for breaching passenger rights and calls for industry investigation 23 July 2020, 00:47 CET
Following thousands of complaints from upset airline passengers, BEUC - and 11 of its member organisations - have reported some major airlines to national consumer protection authorities and the European Commission for breaching passenger rights and for using unfair commercial practices. BEUC and its members are also asking for a broad investigation of the sector regarding wide-spread unfair practices during the last few months.

EU top court sides with consumer privacy in EU-US data shambles 17 July 2020, 00:09 CET
The Court of Justice of the EU today decided to invalidate the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Consumers to get financial breathing space with debt and insurance relief 14 July 2020, 18:07 CET
New guidelines issued to financial institutions will offer some welcome breathing space to consumers who have been hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU institutions reach historic deal on EU-wide collective redress law 23 June 2020, 17:59 CET
The EU institutions approved a law which would allow citizens in all EU countries to go to court as a group if they have suffered the same damage. Consumer groups have been advocating for such a law for more than 30 years.

Most EU consumers open to eat more sustainably but face hurdles, new survey shows 03 June 2020, 17:43 CET
How much attention do you pay to the impact of your food choices on the environment? Are you willing to cut down on red meat? Is the government doing enough to promote sustainable food?

COVID-19 is a wake-up call to end sky-high medicine prices 08 April 2020, 13:34 CET
The current pandemic is a stress test for our health care systems and sky-high medicines prices are one of the problems that need solving. As vaccines, testing kits and treatments are urgently needed to tackle COVID-19, BEUC urges the EU to ensure that public funding into treatment research results in medicines that are affordable to all. Experience shows that public investment in medicines research − such as cancer drugs − does not always ensure fair prices.

EU makes bold pledge for resource-friendly consumer goods 11 March 2020, 17:36 CET
Consumer products sold in Europe will become more environmentally friendly, in a bid to better use depleting natural resources.

Settlement reached: Volkswagen to compensate consumers in Germany affected by Dieselgate 02 March 2020, 00:34 CET
German consumer group Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) and Volkswagen (VW) have reached an out-of-court settlement to compensate drivers affected by the 2015 Dieselgate emissions scandal.

Two-thirds of 250 products bought from online marketplaces fail safety tests, consumer groups find 26 February 2020, 00:29 CET
Six consumer groups from the BEUC network tested 250 electrical goods, toys, cosmetics and other products bought from online marketplaces such as Amazon, AliExpress, eBay and Wish. They selected the products based on possible risks and found that 66% of them fail EU safety laws with possible consequences such as electric shock, fire or suffocation.