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Electric cars: 6 EU countries have less than 1 charger per 100km of road; 1 charger in 7 is fast — 13 October 2022, 22:26 CET

Not only is there an insufficient number of electric charging points along the road networks in most EU countries, but the vast majority of these do not charge quickly enough, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

Consumers' right to compensation for privacy damages under threat — 13 October 2022, 17:32 CET

An Advocate General of the highest European court (CJEU) last week issued a troubling opinion calling into question the GDPR's enforceability by individuals if they have suffered non-material damages, such as psychological distress.

Pilot Talent Pool: important test to alleviate labour and skill shortage — 10 October 2022, 21:54 CET

SMEunited welcomes the launch of the European Commission Pilot Talent Pool focused on the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the labour market.

Parliamentary resolution places nature at the core of good ocean governance, but omits impacts of domestic fisheries — 08 October 2022, 23:42 CET

In response to the European Commission communication on the global ocean agenda, the European Parliament has adopted its resolution on strengthening ocean governance and biodiversity. This document establishes the Parliament's position for how EU and Member State actions should better safeguard our ocean and ensure a balance for human activities.

EU car sales expected to drop again this year; auto makers call for urgent policy action — 08 October 2022, 23:36 CET

With the EU car market expected to shrink by over a quarter this year compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) is calling for a policy framework that enables the market to both recover and make the shift to zero-emissions.

Digital Services Act should help consumers online but success depends on strong enforcement — 04 October 2022, 13:06 CET

Consumers should have greater protections online thanks to the Digital Services Act which EU ministers signed off on today. This was the last political stage before the text becomes EU law. It is crucial that the Digital Services Act gets properly enforced by national authorities and the European Commission.

EU liability rules to be modernised but contain AI services blind spot for consumers — 28 September 2022, 22:32 CET

The European Commission has today proposed to update civil liability rules for products and services to make them fit for purpose in the digital era. BEUC has repeatedly called for their modernisation, and for a clear and enforceable legal framework, given that products are increasingly digitalised, complex, opaque and when powered with AI, can take autonomous decisions.

Emergency call: mitigate energy price rises for SMEs — 28 September 2022, 22:28 CET

SMEunited urges EU Energy Ministers to adopt the measures proposed by the European Commission to tackle high energy prices at their meeting on Friday. In addition, the Commission should come forward with the reviewed State aid crisis framework as soon as possible allowing Member States to implement price-cutting measures for SMEs.

The impact of faster payments: crucial for SMEs — 26 September 2022, 23:52 CET

SMEunited has been advocating the correct payment terms for decades. Late payments endanger the continuity of SME activities. The report on the impact of faster payments in B2B relations, published today by the Joint Research Centre, underlines this statement. We ask the Commission to use this momentum to immediately launch the revision of the Late Payment Directive, announced by President von der Leyen at the State of the Union address.

Ukraine needs a sustainable, climate and nature-positive reconstruction: New WWF/BCG report — 22 September 2022, 18:40 CET

"Ukraine: a sustainable economic recovery for people and nature" - makes the case why post-war reconstruction of Ukraine must be climate- and nature-positive, and provides recommendations on how this can be done to support the people and government of Ukraine.

Cybersecurity of connected products could improve significantly following Commission proposal — 15 September 2022, 23:36 CET

The European Commission has proposed new rules for the cybersecurity of connected products which would substantially improve the worrying situation today. This proposal answers a longstanding need that the BEUC network identified and warned about repeatedly.

State of the SME Union - shape Europe for SMEs — 14 September 2022, 23:35 CET

SMEunited welcomes President von der Leyen's measures for SMEs, announced at the State of the Union address today. SMEs support the efforts to reduce electricity demand, push down prices and avoid blackouts.

European Parliament finally wakes up on biomass threat — 14 September 2022, 21:10 CET

In the middle of a roaring energy crisis, and in the teeth of a massive lobbying push by corporate interests, the European Parliament today took its first steps towards fixing the forest biomass problem in its vote on the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

NGOs walk out of expert Taxonomy group over lack of independence — 14 September 2022, 21:06 CET

BEUC, Birdlife, ECOS, T&E and WWF leave the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance. NGOs claim the European Commission has interfered politically in the group and acted against evidence despite its legal obligation to follow science-based advice.

European Parliament votes for a strong EU Deforestation law — 13 September 2022, 22:53 CET

The voices of over 200,000 citizens that sent personalised messages to Members of the European Parliament asking them to protect forests have been heard. MEPs voted today for significant improvements of the proposal of the European Commission for a regulation on deforestation-free products.

An innovative urban biorefinery — 07 September 2022, 23:25 CET

The innovative circular technologies of URBIOFIN project for municipal waste management are ready to be implemented Europe-wide.

WWF removes 120-year-old obsolete dam in Ukraine to restore rivers in the Carpathian mountains — 08 August 2022, 12:25 CET

Despite the war, critical conservation work continues in Ukraine with a WWF team successfully removing an obsolete dam in the Carpathian mountains, opening the river to migratory fish for the first time in 120 years.

Crucial rules to rein in Big Tech and boost consumer choice to now become EU law — 18 July 2022, 17:54 CET

Ministers from EU countries have approved the Digital Markets Act (DMA), clearing the last hurdle before the rules become final.

EU to finally require businesses' transparency on their harmful environmental impacts — 15 July 2022, 23:32 CET

The European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) voted on 14 July for a strong Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which would require companies to commit to science-based sustainability targets and tangible plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Rule of Law vital for business and the single market — 13 July 2022, 22:55 CET

Commenting on the European Commission's third annual Rule of Law report issued today, Christel Delberghe, Director General Christel Delberghe said:

More nature, more products, more checks: ENVI Committee supports a more ambitious EU Deforestation law — 12 July 2022, 23:41 CET

MEPs in the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety support a stronger EU Deforestation law, however not as strong as they had aimed in their proposal for legislation in 2020.

European Parliament greenlights institutional greenwashing of consumers' investments and pensions — 06 July 2022, 18:54 CET

The European Parliament has given its green light to the European Commission's plans to label nuclear energy and fossil gas as 'green investments'. For BEUC, this is unacceptable institutional greenwashing and will prevent consumers from investing sustainably.

This is not over yet - WWF will not rest until the Taxonomy is truly green — 06 July 2022, 18:50 CET

Like the Commission and the Council previously, the European Parliament failed climate and citizens by endorsing a set of sustainable finance rules which will channel billions of euros into activities that will accelerate climate change and harm the planet, during a vote in today's plenary session.

EU - New Zealand agreement a further step forward for global trade — 06 July 2022, 00:03 CET

Commenting on the conclusion of the EU - New Zealand trade agreement, EuroCommerce Director General Christel Delberghe said:

BEUC comments on major tech legislation (DMA/DSA) that will boost consumer choice and online protection — 05 July 2022, 23:40 CET

The European Parliament has approved a set of major new rules today which will benefit consumers by creating a legal framework for Big Tech, platforms and online marketplaces.