Position paper
Available in
English
Competition law aims to protect consumers by ensuring fair market conditions, promoting choices and access, and stimulating lower prices and higher quality. The framework for the enforcement of those rules was adopted more than 20 years ago and should be updated to address new market structures and businesses practices, especially in fast-evolving and dynamic digital sectors.
The announced review of EU Regulation 1/2003 is a timely opportunity to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of competition enforcement to address the complexities of today’s digital markets and to ensure that consumers’ wellbeing and interests remains at the centre of competition law and policies.
The announced review of EU Regulation 1/2003 is a timely opportunity to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of competition enforcement to address the complexities of today’s digital markets and to ensure that consumers’ wellbeing and interests remains at the centre of competition law and policies.
Position paper
Available in
English
Currently, EU law insufficiently addresses unfair commercial practices in the digital realm. This means that policymakers should urgently update EU consumer law. BEUC believes the upcoming Digital Fairness Act is the key tool to make this change happen.
You will find all our recommendations for this important initiative in our new position paper.
You will find all our recommendations for this important initiative in our new position paper.
Position paper
Available in
English
BEUC welcomes the opportunity to provide input on BEREC’s work programme for 2026. This contribution builds on the input shared earlier in April 2025 to the Outline BEREC Work Programme.
BEUC particularly supports the inclusion of the following elements in the work programme:
BEREC’s Opinion on the Recommendation on relevant markets susceptible to ex ante regulation.
The ongoing commitment to conduct additional workshops with external stakeholders to exchange views and insights.
BEREC’s commitment to ensuring the compatibility and legal certainty of digital regulation to ensure that end-users are adequately protected and informed of their rights.
BEREC's report on switching and termination of contracts.
The report on the impact of AI on competition dynamics, internet openness, and end-users’ rights.
BEUC particularly supports the inclusion of the following elements in the work programme:
BEREC’s Opinion on the Recommendation on relevant markets susceptible to ex ante regulation.
The ongoing commitment to conduct additional workshops with external stakeholders to exchange views and insights.
BEREC’s commitment to ensuring the compatibility and legal certainty of digital regulation to ensure that end-users are adequately protected and informed of their rights.
BEREC's report on switching and termination of contracts.
The report on the impact of AI on competition dynamics, internet openness, and end-users’ rights.
Position paper
Available in
English
Energy systems are increasingly connected with digital tools and automation becoming more common in consumers’ homes. This digitalisation can be beneficial to consumers. It can help make their energy system more efficient and as consequence lower their energy bills. For example, in order to be able to fully benefit from the advantages of a flexible system , consumers need to have access to digital tools and services that provide real time data. Also, the proliferation of online comparison tools and switching services can help consumers finding an offer that better suits their needs and to switch provider quickly.
Digitalisation can also contribute to the green transition by making it easier for consumers to use and share renewable energy. Consumers with solar panels will benefit from digitalisation as it will help them to optimise the use of electricity generated and, for instance, share the surplus with neighbours.
However, the spreading of digitalisation and AI in the energy sector also comes with important shortcomings that consumers need to be protected from. The misuse of digital tools can undermine consumers’ fundamental rights to privacy and data protection. Poorly cybersecure smart meters could have an impact on peoples’ finances and even health. The use of AI by energy providers could also result in discriminatory practices. Therefore, while BEUC is supportive of the digitalisation of the energy sector, this can only happen if certain conditions are fulfilled and with a high level of consumer protection.
In the paper, we provide a list of recommendations that EU and national policymakers as well as regulators need to bear in mind when considering the further digitalisation of the energy sector.
Digitalisation can also contribute to the green transition by making it easier for consumers to use and share renewable energy. Consumers with solar panels will benefit from digitalisation as it will help them to optimise the use of electricity generated and, for instance, share the surplus with neighbours.
However, the spreading of digitalisation and AI in the energy sector also comes with important shortcomings that consumers need to be protected from. The misuse of digital tools can undermine consumers’ fundamental rights to privacy and data protection. Poorly cybersecure smart meters could have an impact on peoples’ finances and even health. The use of AI by energy providers could also result in discriminatory practices. Therefore, while BEUC is supportive of the digitalisation of the energy sector, this can only happen if certain conditions are fulfilled and with a high level of consumer protection.
In the paper, we provide a list of recommendations that EU and national policymakers as well as regulators need to bear in mind when considering the further digitalisation of the energy sector.