Europe is undergoing a ‘perfect storm’: the rising energy prices, only partly linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and its implications on other sectors (food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, products and services linked to energy-intensive production) led to heavy inflation. While salaries remain in most countries stable, prices are sky rocketing, and supply chains are being disrupted, generating among many consumers major worries about their short-term future.
These developments have an impact on all our personal lives, and quite logically on the consumer movement. This page presents what the BEUC Secretariat and its members are doing across different areas to support consumers through this crisis.
As the voice of 46 independent consumer groups, we have drawn EU policymakers’ attention to important actions they must take to protect consumers from skyrocketing prices.
'Weathering the cost-of-living crisis': European consumer organisations have summarised in this document the most crucial actions for policymakers and market players to roll out to address or mitigate the crisis.
Relief measures should prioritise the most vulnerable consumers. Governments should target less affluent households for longer instead of sparing more affluent households that can cushion the short-term financial blow. Read our recommendations to policymakers:
'How to shield consumers from skyrocketing energy prices this winter'.
This crisis is an opportunity to push us towards – not away from – most sustainable lifestyles. Being sustainable can save money, whether it is shifting towards more plant-based diets, ride a bike over driving a car, or insulating one’s home. But for this to happen, the sustainable choice must be the easy choice.
The Cost-of-Living Crisis: An opportunity to move to sustainable lifestyles?, opinion piece in the OECD Forum Network, October 2022.
Cost-of-living debate on Euronews, July 2022
Le pouvoir d’achat des européens pris en étau entre crise énergétique et transition verte : éléments de solution, Confrontations Europe, October 2022.
Euronews' 'Brussels, my love?' show on the cost-of-living crisis and public policy responses needed to support consumers in these times of uncertainty. You can watch BEUC’s insights in English here and the interview in Spanish here, February 2023
Consumer organisations play a major role in helping people to survive this winter.
In a nutshell:
Consumer organisations support consumers facing the crisis by granting them concrete and practical support.
They also call on policy makers, both at national and European level, to defend consumer interests in policy responses.
They help consumers in enforcing their rights where some players abuse of their vulnerabilities and market conditions linked to the inflation economy.
* Please note this is a living webpage which will be updated as new member actions will take place.
Energy | Food | Health | Finance | Consumer Rights | Cross-cutting
CONSUMER FOCUSED ACTIONS
POLICY FOCUSED ACTIONS
CONSUMER FOCUSED ACTIONS
POLICY FOCUSED ACTIONS
POLICY FOCUSED ACTIONS
CONSUMER FOCUSED ACTIONS
POLICY FOCUSED ACTIONS
ADVOCACY ACTIONS
CONSUMER FOCUSED ACTIONS
POLICY FOCUSED ACTIONS
Are you living in Europe and looking for advice on your rights in the current crisis? Please visit this page to find information by consumer groups in your country.