Will the EU’s ambition towards a sustainable food system make it to the finish line?

As the European Commission is putting the final touches to its Farm to Fork Strategy for Sustainable Food, attempts to water it down are intensifying. Here is why the Commission must stick to its guns.

/ May 12, 2020

Tackling energy poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic raises major challenges for tackling energy poverty writes William Baker, energy expert from the STEP project (Solutions to Tackle Energy Poverty). The STEP project is now calling for immediate action to help low income consumers pay their...

/ April 23, 2020

COVID-19 and the digitalisation of health: five risks you need to know

Some claim that artificial intelligence (AI) will always be better than natural stupidity, especially when it comes to decisions about health. But it is important to be aware of the risks using AI in health care might entail for us.

/ April 20, 2020

A new tool to help people spend less on car fuel

We get low-quality information when buying a car. Better car labelling and a new tool for European drivers to know their fuel consumption, called MILE21, can change this.

/ March 26, 2020

How I learned to love climate change

Climate change brings an opportunity: to change our financial system to one that focuses on the long-term broad interests of society as a whole, Kęstutis Kupšys argues.

/ January 27, 2020

The battle of the kickbacks

The Norwegian fund market was rocked to its foundations when Sbanken, an internet retail bank, announced that it would return all retrocessions (kickbacks) to its customers.

/ December 10, 2019

Let´s call a spade a spade: abuse of power in the digital economy must end

The era of tech-optimism is over, replaced by a crisis of trust. While there are strong rules in Europe which could help consumers to regain trust, their enforcement is sadly lacking.

/ November 12, 2019
Picture of the World Trade Organization (WTO) building

Is it safe to buy products online from the other side of the world?

Consumers now buy things from anywhere in the world in a few clicks. But consumer groups' research shows the safety of these products is not always guaranteed. Online shops are urged to act responsibly and authorities should work together across...

/ October 8, 2019

Thanks to the EU, we’re moving closer to a repair society

Broken washing machines, computers or tumble dryers are creating mountains of heavy household equipment waste. And to replace these broken items, we buy new products, creating a vicious cycle of more expenditure and more waste. To manufacture them, limited resources...

/ October 2, 2019

How EU-funded research can deliver to consumers

Between 2021 and 2027, the EU Horizon Europe programme is planning to spend around a whopping 100 billion euros on research projects. No surprise therefore that academics, industry representatives and others will flood Brussels this week to attend the huge...

/ September 24, 2019