The EU is scrapping an outdated customs duty exemption for e-commerce parcels worth less than €150. This measure will help ensure a level playing field for EU businesses and safe options for consumers, in response to the exponential rise in billions of low-value e-commerce goods entering the EU. Goods from third countries, purchased online and […]
The Commission is simplifying energy and tyre labelling and making it more accessible to European consumers
European consumers, suppliers and retailers of household appliances, electronic devices and tyres will benefit from the simplified labelling rules proposed by the Commission. The simplified energy labelling and tyre labelling rules will make the requirements easier for suppliers and retailers to comply with, whilst ensuring that consumers receive the information they need when purchasing a […]
The Commission will work with the industry on the deactivation of video games by publishers
The European Commission will work with consumers and publishers in late 2026 to explore ways of improving industry standards, in response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’. Modern video games often rely on publishers’ servers to function. Publishers may cease to support these servers, rendering the games partially or completely unplayable. The ECI […]
Internships – European Economic and Social Committee – Belgium
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a consultative body that gives Europe’s economic and social partners (i.e. employers, trade unions, representatives of small businesses, farmers’ associations, consumers, etc.) the opportunity to give their formal opinion on EU policies. Twice a year, the EESC organises training periods for long-term (five months) and short-term (one […]
Commission launches investigation into Shein under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has today opened formal proceedings against Shein under the Digital Services Act for its addictive design, lack of transparency in its recommendation systems, and the sale of illegal products, including child sexual abuse material. More specifically, the investigation will focus on the following areas: The systems Shein has implemented to limit the […]
The EU invests €650 million in cross-border energy infrastructure
The European Commission will allocate around €650 million in grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to help finance fourteen cross-border energy infrastructure projects. These projects will play a key role in strengthening the EU’s energy security, increasing the integration of renewable energies and, consequently, Europe’s competitiveness. As highlighted in the recently adopted European electricity […]
Consumer protection: Council approves updated Alternative Dispute Resolution directive
The Council gave its final approval to a directive updating, simplifying and improving the existing framework for alternative dispute resolution. Alternative dispute resolution refers to out-of-court methods of resolving disputes between consumers and traders, usually with the help of impartial third parties. The legal text adopted today aims to make alternative dispute resolution a more […]
Commission finds Temu likely breached Digital Services Act over illegal products
Last July 28, the Commission preliminarily found Temu in breach of the obligation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to properly assess the risks of illegal products being disseminated on its marketplace. Evidence showed that there is a high risk for consumers in the EU to encounter illegal products on the platform. Specifically, the analysis […]
Green transition: new EU rules to protect consumers
The Council and the Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on the directive to empower consumers for the green transition. The proposal aims at enhancing consumers’ rights by amending the unfair commercial practices directive (UCPD) and the consumer rights directive (CRD) and adapting them for the green transition. Today’s agreement maintains the main objectives […]