Reports

The digital euro, if issued by the European Central Bank (ECB), would offer a public digital payment method for the euro area, alongside physical cash. As EU policymakers and the ECB continue developing its design, this survey aims to inform about consumer preferences related to digital payments across Europe.

To ensure the digital euro is successful, it has to be an attractive new payment option, that addresses consumers’ preferences and concerns when paying digitally. Existing studies, such as the ECB’s Study on the Payment Attitudes of Consumers in the Euro area, already identify key factors that would persuade consumers to try new payment solutions: higher security standards, ease of use, lower cost, more privacy, and speed.

This new survey (of 10,000 consumers in 10 eurozone countries) directly asks consumers what they expect from the digital euro and how they see the future of digital payments.

We asked consumers about their personal experience with their heat pump in France, Spain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. To this end, a consumer organisation in each country conducted interviews with six to eight heat pump owners last summer (2024) to gain a snapshot of their experience.

The testimonies highlight the benefits heat pumps can bring to people’s homes and show what policymakers can learn from their experience.

This is the executive summary of that exercise. To read the full report, click here.

BEUC’s latest total cost of ownership study reveals that electric cars are at a turning point in Europe, with the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of battery electric vehicle (BEVs) becoming competitive with conventional vehicles for first owners as early as 2026.

This study explores the total cost of ownership (TCO) of electric, petrol, diesel, and hybrid passenger cars, building on previous ERM analysis performed in 2021. This study quantifies the cost to the consumer of electric and petrol cars, for first- to third-hand buyers. This study considers the average cost of ownership of a vehicle in the EU, accounting for vehicle leasing costs and fuel/electricity prices, whilst excluding maintenance, insurance, and country-specific taxes and subsidies. The results of this study show that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are already the lowest cost option for used vehicle buyers and will be the most economical for new buyers of medium cars from 2026 onwards.