A screenshot from episode 6 of season one of the series "And Just Like That..." featuring the characters Carrie Bradshaw and Charlotte York in Carrie's warehouse, surrounded by carboard boxes

Stamped, sealed, delivered: Can customs bring sustainability home?

During my yearly winter rewatch of Sex and the City, I never imagined customs and sustainability would inspire my very own Brussels-trade-bubble Carrie Bradshaw column. But here we are—customs, consumers, and sustainability. I couldn’t help but wonder…

/ January 22, 2025
Solar rooftop energy

Reviewing what I learnt in my new energy job after six months

BEUC’s Laurens Rutten shares his learning curve experience in a sector he was warned is “extremely complex”.

/ January 15, 2025
Basket of items and a coin

Online reviews: can we trust what we see?

Are the online reviews you are seeing really written by customers?  In today’s digital marketplace, fake reviews are a growing problem, designed to mislead shoppers into buying subpar products. Petra Cakovska, from S.O.S Poprad, BEUC's Slovak member, tells you how...

/ November 29, 2024

Shopping on Temu: safe or sorry?

Temu is cheap and has shaken up e-commerce in Europe, but it has come at a cost for consumers who have no certainty that what they are buying is safe. Authorities need to intervene and make sure EU laws are...

/ September 26, 2024
After 17 years as the Director General of BEUC – The European Consumer Organisation – Monique Goyens bows out this year for a well-deserved retirement

Six things I’ve learned advocating for European consumers

After 17 years as the Director General of BEUC – The European Consumer Organisation – Monique Goyens bows out this year for a well-deserved retirement. She looks back at her career and shares a few thoughts about lobbying the EU...

/ September 19, 2024
How can you call your bank to cancel your credit card if you are deaf?

‘Call me maybe’…How do you call your bank to cancel your credit card if you’re deaf?

When your bank unexpectedly blocks your credit card, it should be a relatively easy situation to resolve. But not when the bank requires you to call and you cannot use the phone because you are deaf. BEUC secretary to the...

/ August 7, 2024
EU flags fluttering in the wind in front of the Commission headquarters

EU must urgently tackle harm caused by weakened competition

The Commission and EU governments must urgently tackle the problem by more - not less - strictly enforcing EU competition rules, and in particular merger control, writes Vanessa Turner.

/ July 2, 2024

The Truth Behind “100% Recycled” Plastic Bottles: Exposing Greenwashing

In today's age of expanded environmental consciousness, phrases like "100% recycled" or "100% recyclable" plastered across plastic bottle packaging might seem like a beacon of sustainability. However, the truth is far from that and it’s time for authorities to crack...

/ June 5, 2024
Pills in blister pack on conveyor belt in a pharmaceutical industry production

What member states must get right for consumers in EU pharma reform

The European Union’s pharmaceutical legislation is undergoing its biggest reform in two decades. It is the moment for member states to pay particular attention to what consumers need, writes Ancel.la Santos.

/ May 13, 2024
Fraud is becoming an increasingly serious issue for consumers.

Payment fraud has become an industry: here’s how to stop it

Payments fraud is becoming an industry and consumers are paying the price. It's time for a systemic solution, write Anna Martin and Mireia Llambrich Anto from BEUC's Financial Services team.