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 […]
How does the EU protect you through the new rules for digital platforms?
The European Union has created the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Two laws to better protect users and consumers on the internet. Digital platforms have become very important agents in our daily lives. Today we communicate, buy, search for information or consume audiovisual content through our digital devices. However, this […]
Consumer protection: European Commission contacts Nintendo to fix defective Nintendo Switch controllers free of charge
Following an alert from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the European Commission and EU consumer authorities (Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Authorities) contacted Nintendo to address a recurring technical problem with irresponsive controllers. Following this action, Nintendo has agreed to offer all consumers the right to repair for affected controllers of the “Nintendo Switch” […]
Consumer protection: Google commits to comply with EU rules to provide consumers with clearer, more accurate information
Have you ever struggled to understand whether you were buying directly from Google or from a different brand, or had difficulty finding information about final costs? In order to further align its practices with EU law – mainly on lack of transparency and clear information to consumers – Google has committed to introduce changes in […]