Press releases

BEUC – together with 25 members from 21 countries – filed a complaint today with the European Commission and European consumer protection authorities against SHEIN for its use of deceptive techniques (‘dark patterns’). These push consumers into purchasing more than originally intended and fuel the environmental and societal problems caused by the fast fashion industry.

The European Commission today presented its Water Resilience Strategy, the aim of which is environmental protection, competitiveness and to secure clean and affordable water and sanitation for all at all times, and empowering citizens for water resilience. BEUC very much welcomes this action plan as much bolder action is needed to restore and protect the water cycle, to eliminate harmful chemicals, make agricultural practices more sustainable and invest substantially in the EU’s water infrastructure.

The EU Commission announced today proposals to simplify rules for “small” mid-caps and reform the Single Market. While simplification can benefit companies and consumers alike, BEUC highlights the necessity to improve the enforcement of the EU’s key data protection law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), instead of reopening it and the need to keep some key information about products’ use, maintenance and sustainability on and with the products, not online.

Today, BEUC and 16 member organisations from 12 countries filed a complaint to the European Commission and the Consumer Protection authorities’ network (CPC) denouncing seven airlines charging undue fees to consumers for their hand baggage. We are calling for an EU-wide investigation into the commercial practices of the targeted airlines and the wider sector.