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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.
Tools
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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 papers
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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 releases
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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.
Reports
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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 releases
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.
Letters
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On 5 June, BEUC, together with 25 members from 21 countries, submitted to the CPC Network an external alert against SHEIN pursuant to Article 27 of EU Regulation 2017/2394 (the CPC Regulation).
Reports
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Based on new research, including studies by BEUC members across Europe, this report reveals how deceptive techniques (‘dark patterns’) trigger unwilling spending and economic losses for consumers, fuel the circulation of unsafe clothing items across Europe, and disempower consumers in their efforts towards the green transition.
Reports
Click to buy (more): How fast fashion giant SHEIN uses dark patterns to push overconsumption (annex)
Available in
English
This document provides a summary of the dark patterns observed on the selected SHEIN websites and app between November 2024 and May 2025. The products seen in the screenshots have been randomly selected, with a variety of clothes and accessories, to show the widespread use of dark patters - irrespective of product.