BEUC - The Consumer Voice

BEUC - The Consumer Voice

@beuc.eu

We are BEUC, The European Consumer Organisation. We represent 42 independent national consumer organisations in Brussels and defend the interests of European consumers.

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BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

EU–Canada cooperation should deliver for consumers. With the Consumers Council of Canada, we call on the EU and Canada to put people at the centre of their partnership: safer products, affordable clean tech, easier travel, cross-border payments, digital rights, and more. Read our checklist ⤵️

beuc.euEU-Canada relations that work for consumersHow can a closer EU-Canada relationship deliver for consumers? This Consumer Checklist from BEUC and the Consumers Council of Canada sets out priorities for stronger cooperation on safer products,…
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Today is World Sustainability Day! 🌱 Sustainable products should be durable, repairable & affordable. Ecodesign can help make this a reality, but more needs to be done. Europe needs a Circular Economy Act that delivers for consumers. BEUC's recent work on Ecodesign: www.beuc.eu/position-pap...

beuc.euHow Ecodesign criteria can make sustainable and affordable textiles a realityAs consumers are increasingly aware of the textiles sector’s negative impact on the environment, they expect their clothes to last longer. Almost six in 10 Europeans are willing to pay more for produc...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

For consumers it means: ✅ Restrictions on lending if credit-worthiness assessment is negative to prevent over-indebtedness. ✅ Loans below €200 inc. ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ will be covered ✅ Those in financial difficulty will be offered supporting measures Read more 👇

beuc.euMore protection when taking out a loanConsumers will get more protection when they take out a loan thanks to new measures in the EU’s Consumer Credit Directive. The rules – which will help reduce costs and protect consumers from over-inde...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

What is the price of too lenient merger control for consumers? 🔹less innovation 🔹more profits for companies 🔹efficiencies not materialising Our new blog post takes stock of new Commission data looking at what this means 👉 blog.beuc.eu/eu-merger-co...

blog.beuc.euToo lenient EU merger control has led to less innovation - Consumer CornerToo lenient EU merger control has led to less innovation. On average, mergers have led to less innovation and higher markups
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Smart glasses should not turn everyday public spaces into places of covert surveillance. In a letter to Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, BEUC is calling on the EU to urgently examine the privacy risks of camera-equipped wearable devices. www.beuc.eu/letters/cove...

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Good news! 👏 Danone, Coca-Cola and Nestlé have agreed to stop misleading consumers about the recyclability of their products, following BEUC's greenwashing complaint launched in November 2023, with the support of ClientEarth and ECOS. Check out our full press release: www.beuc.eu/press-releas...

beuc.euDanone, Nestlé and Coca-Cola commit to address greenwashing in response to BEUC complaintToday, the European Commission announced that Danone has agreed to change some of its labelling practices, the last company flagged in BEUC’s greenwashing complaint to do so. BEUC and its members deno...

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Forbrukerrådet
@forbrukerradet.bsky.social

Interested in the future of adtech and commercial surveillance? Join BEUC and the Norwegian Consumer Council on 2 November for a webinar exploring the Xandr fine, its implications for the digital advertising industry, and the ongoing EU Digital Omnibus.

forbrukerradet.noWebinar, 2 November: Xandr Fined - What's Next for Adtech?Join BEUC and the Norwegian Consumer Council for a webinar exploring the Xandr fine, its implications for commercial surveillance and the adtech industry, and the ongoing EU Digital Omnibus.
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

As temperatures drop, some might be wondering what’s it like to live with a heat pump. Last year we asked consumers across Europe to find out. 🚨 Spoiler alert: most people are very happy with their heat pumps, reporting that their thermal comfort has increased. Find out more 👇 #HeatPumpDay

beuc.euWhat’s it like to live with a heat pump? New BEUC reportA new report published by BEUC today reveals that heat pumps are no longer a technology of the future: they are already powering homes across Europe and consumers are broadly happy with them.
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

What happens when your shopping assistant starts shopping for you? AI agents can already compare offers and will soon complete purchases. Delegating a task to AI must not mean losing rights, transparency or control. The upcoming Digital Fairness Act must close gaps. 👇 www.beuc.eu/tools/toward...

BEUC - The Consumer Voice reposted

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Last week 🇫🇷 and 🇩🇪 made a deal that completely ignores consumers. They want to dilute 2035 car CO2 standards even further. In a cost of living crisis, consumers are finding ways to escape fossil fuel prices. They should be supported, rather than discouraged, in this process 👇

linkedin.comLast week France and Germany agreed a deal that completely ignores consumers. All across Europe, people are facing rising energy costs. This is affecting how they move, to how (and in some cases,…...Last week France and Germany agreed a deal that completely ignores consumers. All across Europe, people are facing rising energy costs. This is affecting how they move, to how (and in some cases, ...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

How can a closer EU-Canada relationship deliver for consumers? ▪️safer and more sustainable products, ▪️affordable and accessible services, ▪️easier travel and payments, ▪️and stronger protection when things go wrong. Our joint checklist with the Consumers Council of Canada ⤵️

beuc.euEU-Canada relations that work for consumersHow can a closer EU-Canada relationship deliver for consumers? This Consumer Checklist from BEUC and the Consumers Council of Canada sets out priorities for stronger cooperation on safer products, aff...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

The EU is negotiating rules to keep pesticides in our fields and on our plates for even longer than today. There are better solutions 👇 🔹give the EU Food safety authority more budget 🔹and more staff Consumers shouldn't have to worry about what's in their plates 👉 www.beuc.eu/tools/key-po...

lesoir.bePesticides et santé : sortir de l’omerta et protéger les victimesCe 13 octobre, des victimes de pesticides réunies à l’Université de Liège en présence d’étudiants et de citoyens inquiets, ont témoigné des ravages des pesticides sur la santé et appelé à briser l’ome...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

EU leaders meet this week and energy prices are high on the agenda. With consumers picking up the bill for another fossil-fuelled energy crisis, governments must protect the most vulnerable. But the best protection against the next crisis is speeding up renewables, clean heating & home renovation👇

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

In times of crisis, our food systems break down. As a response, policymakers rush to find quick fixes. Emergency measures ease the crisis' worst effects but will not stop the system from breaking down again. How can the EU change that? Read our blog to find out 👇 blog.beuc.eu/addressing-f...

BEUC - The Consumer Voice reposted

Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad
@finnmyrstad.bsky.social

🎉 Great news! Microsoft is fined €8,5 million by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority for sharing personal data to potentially thousands of companies! www.forbrukerradet.no/side/microso... 1/

forbrukerradet.noMicrosoft company fined 8,5 million euros following complaint by the Norwegian Consumer Council and noybThe Norwegian Data Protection Authority has fined the Microsoft subsidiary Xandr 8,5 million euros million (NOK 92 million) after the Norwegian Consumer Council uncovered that the dating app Grindr pr...

BEUC - The Consumer Voice reposted

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Are new fossil fuel projects green? 🤔 The EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation risks opening the door to greenwashing if investing in fossil fuel expansion is allowed in the 'Transition' category. Here's what that could look like for consumers 👇

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫? 📲 Thanks to the DMA, Google and Apple now allow you to wirelessly transfer your data from Android to iOS and vice versa when you switch devices. 👏 Competition works best when people can choose freely, without losing access to their digital lives.

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

📈Food prices are increasing globally. In 🇪🇺 the current fossil fuel crisis is raising concerns about prices going up for consumers. Our new blog focuses on why emergency responses from governments are no longer enough. 📣Stop quick fixes, look at food systems 👉 blog.beuc.eu/addressing-f...

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

"Consumers must be able to rely on products to be safe," as millions of unsafe products have flooded the EU market over the last year, BEUC and its members are calling for stronger rules on products from third countries. Read more from our 🇩🇪 member vzbv in @zeit.de ⤵️

zeit.deEuropean Product Act: Verbände fordern strengere EU-Regeln für Produkte aus DrittstaatenViele Produkte, die über Onlineplattformen aus Drittstaaten importiert werden, verstoßen gegen EU-Regeln. Mehrere Verbände fordern neue Haftungsregeln.
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Are new fossil fuel projects green? 🤔 The EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation risks opening the door to greenwashing if investing in fossil fuel expansion is allowed in the 'Transition' category. Here's what that could look like for consumers 👇

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

🏷️ This #WorldEcolabelDay, we celebrate that more and more Europeans recognise the #EUEcolabel logo, and trust in the label keeps growing. With new EU rules banning misleading green claims, the EU Ecolabel can help companies comply with the rules. Check the new data 👇 europa.eu/eurobaromete...

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

ETS2 is key to decarbonising buildings & transport + protecting consumers from future price shocks. ✍ We've joined a call on EU countries to implement ETS2 in 2028 with no further delay 👇 This will allow countries to start helping the most vulnerable to participate in the energy transition.

beuc.euJoint letter calling upon EU Member States to implement ETS2ETS2 is an essential part of decarbonising buildings and transport and protecting consumers from future price shocks. That's why BEUC teamed up as part of a group of 50 civil society organisations, co...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

"The market for data brokers, where data is collected and added to profiles, has an estimated value of 40.5 billion euros. For every EU citizen, this is almost 108 euros per year. (...) consumers could not understand how this market works due to the lack of transparency."

netzpolitik.orgEU-Staaten entscheiden über Cookie-Banner, KI-Training und Co.Die Verhandlungen rund um den Daten-Omnibus im Rat sind in einer heißen Phase. Derzeit sieht es so aus, als würde die von NGOs kritisierte „Pauschalerlaubnis“ für KI-Training beschlossen. Während die...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

More renewables means more stable energy prices ⚡ But this pathway isn't guaranteed. A potential renewables target for 2040 is at risk. Dropping it would give consumers less protection from the next fossil-fuelled energy crisis. We're pleased to join the #KeepTheTarget campaign: keepthetarget.eu

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

"At the beginning e-commerce was really small in Europe and then it became this tsunami of parcels". Read more from @leaauffret.bsky.social on why the €3 customs duty introduced this summer is an important step to reduce the number of dangerous products entering into the EU.

aa.com.trCheap no more: What do EU’s new e-commerce rules mean for low-price platforms?EU’s €3 duty on low-value parcels targets e-commerce platforms including Shein and Temu | Anadolu
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

Happy World Teachers’ Day! To mark the occasion, we want to spotlight an idea that deserves more attention: Material Compass by our 🇩🇪 member vzbv. Initiatives like this are why we built the Consumer Education Hub: to make good consumer-education initiatives more visible, accessible and shareable.

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

💸 EU consumers and business would lose millions of euros without strong data protection rules. We presented the result of our new research The conclusion? Data protection and privacy rights can have a positive effect on our society and our economy. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐃𝐏𝐑.

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

🔹 87% of consumers consider it important to be able to trust companies in handling their personal data. 🔹The annual cost of not being able to exercise their rights of access, erasure and data portability costs consumers €1.9bn. 🔹The EU's secondary data market is worth over €40 billion.

beuc.euPrivacy that powers the European data economyThe results from Assembly Research’s study into the economic costs of weakening privacy and data protection highlight the often-overlooked economic benefits of privacy: strongly enforcing the GDPR…
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

To discuss these new findings, James Robinson and Bart Smallman presented their findings and BEUC hosted a panel discussion with Renate Nikolay, Marina Kaljurand, Dr. Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna and Ursula Pachl. Thank you all for joining us! Read the full report ⤵️

beuc.euThe economic costs of weakening privacy and data protectionIn light of the European Commission’s proposed Digital Omnibus package, BEUC asked Assembly to conduct an economic analysis of the impact on European consumers and businesses of a failure to protect…
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

How can we tackle dark patterns? We discussed this and much more at this week's joint Enforcement & Consumer Rights Expert Meeting in Berlin, kindly hosted by our German member @vznrw.bsky.social, shaping how we protect consumers in the months ahead. Thank you all for the rich exchange! 🚀

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

💶 Did you know that European businesses cost €1.9bn per year to consumers by overlooking privacy and data protection measures? These costs stem from a lack of protection against data breaches or empowering consumers with basic rights of access, erasure and data portability.

beuc.euPrivacy that powers the European data economyThe results from Assembly Research’s study into the economic costs of weakening privacy and data protection highlight the often-overlooked economic benefits of privacy: strongly enforcing the GDPR and...
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

And the financial impact of ignoring privacy and data protection measures goes beyond consumers. Organisations lose around €25bn per year when services are taken offline because of a data breach and around 60% of small businesses close their doors within six months of a data breach.

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

A new paper from our 🇬🇧 member Which? shows energy flexibility offers potential big gains for consumers ⚡ 1/5 households are already participating in the UK. But those that see the biggest rewards are those with EVs or high electricity use 👇

which.co.ukHousehold Energy Flexibility: Who Really Benefits? - Which?Expert perspectives on the opportunities and risks for households from flexible energy use, and what action is needed to make sure a wide range of households benefit.
BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

But the paper also notes that many flexible behaviours require low-carbon tech...and wealthier households tend to own more of these technologies. Moreover, some households will find it difficult to shift the timing of their energy demand 🕖

BEUC - The Consumer Voice
@beuc.eu

🎮Nine video game companies are under investigation for unfair practices flagged by BEUC, like hidden in-game currency costs & unfair terms. "No one should need a calculator to know what they're spending," says our DG Agustín Reyna. www.beuc.eu/game-over

beuc.euGame OVER | BEUCBEUC and 22 member organisation from 17 countries denounced leading video game companies’ unfair practices to the European Commission and the EU network of Consumer Authorities (CPC-Network).