Position Papers

A consumer-friendly charging ecosystem is a precondition to the mass adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). A growing number of charging stations are popping up in our cities, in parking lots and along EU’s roads. Yet, frustrations are still there when it comes to knowing the price of your charging session in advance, trying to compare offers, juggling between payment methods and facing high prices in certain locations.

In the last years, consumers came across many new challenges from the COVID pandemic, war in Ukraine to the persistent cost-of-living crisis. As a result, their purchasing power and market behaviours have changed significantly. Today, more than ever, they need strong consumer protection legislation and its effective roll out and enforcement to fully benefit from the Single Market. Those are the prerequisites for more consumer trust, without which an improved EU competitiveness cannot become a reality. The upcoming Consumer Agenda will set a vision for the EU consumer policy for the next five years and will directly impact any developments in this area that have a potential to deliver to consumers.

The energy sector is complex, and many consumers struggle to fully participate in the market or benefit from the opportunities the energy transition offers. Recent reforms have introduced new rights and protections to help consumers and ensure they are properly protected. However, these improvements will only become a reality and consumers will only be adequately protected with the help and active involvement of national regulators and the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER).