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Position paper
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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.
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English
Consumers combining different transport modes do not currently benefit from harmonised rights at EU level, making them completely dependent on operators’ terms and conditions. The European Commission proposed creating a framework in 2023 and both the European Parliament (EP) and the EU Council have reached their positions. It is now essential that the final compromise delivers a high-level of consumer protection.
This two-pager sums up BEUC’s main recommendations for trilogue negotiations. For more information see our position paper.
This two-pager sums up BEUC’s main recommendations for trilogue negotiations. For more information see our position paper.
Tools
Available in
English
Passenger rights are essential consumer protections and are currently under review. In practice, few consumers get to exercise their rights due to overly lengthy, burdensome and ineffective enforcement procedures. This calls for change and trilogues need to clarify and strengthen passenger rights and their enforcement rather than diminish them. For more information, see our position paper, the Council and Parliament’s positions.
Press release
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English
Today, the European Commission opened a rule-breaking procedure against the Spanish government for fining five airlines for their unfair hand-luggage pricing practices in May 2024. The overall fine amounted to €179 million. This decision takes place while Spanish courts are yet to give their decision on Ryanair's ongoing appeal of the fine.
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European consumers often book their holidays through pre-arranged or customised packages, which are regulated
by the existing Package Travel Directive (PTD). With the ongoing revision, BEUC provides recommendations for trilogue negotiations.
by the existing Package Travel Directive (PTD). With the ongoing revision, BEUC provides recommendations for trilogue negotiations.
Position paper
Available in
English
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.
Press release
Available in
English
Two years after BEUC denounced airlines’ widespread greenwashing to EU authorities, the situation has improved but more still needs to be done. As the Paris Air show is in full swing, BEUC encourages the European Commission and the network of consumer protection authorities (CPC-Network) to keep investigating the airlines’ practices and agree on commitments to make their marketing more trustworthy.
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In June 2023, BEUC and 23 of its members from 19 countries lodged an EU-wide complaint against 17 European airlines for greenwashing. Based on a new evidence-gathering and two years after we launched our ‘Green (f)lying’ action we found that:
• Some airlines have removed or changed their climate-related marketing claims. This
appears to be a result of the actions launched by consumer groups and other civil society
organisations4 as well as of the exchanges between airlines and consumer protection
authorities.5
• However, greenwashing continues to be widespread, and some changes have been
limited (such as light changes in the wording and/or colour codes). Consumers are overall
still being faced with the false impression that they are choosing a sustainable transport
method rather than a highly polluting one.
• Airlines’ green claims continue to rely on two key arguments: As shown in our 2023
action, claims mainly misrepresent the impact of the flight through reliance on ‘offsetting’
claims and oversell the trader’s future goals and plans.
• ‘Green fares’ are increasingly popular. The airlines which are part of the Lufthansa group
registered a steady rise of such fares, which grant consumers extra miles or loyalty points.6
• Regulatory contexts are getting stricter in Europe and beyond. An increasing number of
authorities and court decisions have clarified when and how climate-related claims can be
admissible.
• Some airlines have removed or changed their climate-related marketing claims. This
appears to be a result of the actions launched by consumer groups and other civil society
organisations4 as well as of the exchanges between airlines and consumer protection
authorities.5
• However, greenwashing continues to be widespread, and some changes have been
limited (such as light changes in the wording and/or colour codes). Consumers are overall
still being faced with the false impression that they are choosing a sustainable transport
method rather than a highly polluting one.
• Airlines’ green claims continue to rely on two key arguments: As shown in our 2023
action, claims mainly misrepresent the impact of the flight through reliance on ‘offsetting’
claims and oversell the trader’s future goals and plans.
• ‘Green fares’ are increasingly popular. The airlines which are part of the Lufthansa group
registered a steady rise of such fares, which grant consumers extra miles or loyalty points.6
• Regulatory contexts are getting stricter in Europe and beyond. An increasing number of
authorities and court decisions have clarified when and how climate-related claims can be
admissible.
Press release
Today, Member States struck a deal on the Air Passenger Rights Regulation revision after over a decade of political gridlock. BEUC warns that the Polish Presidency of the EU Council’s compromise substantially decreases several key rights.