Press releases

The European Parliament has voted to substantially strengthen the rules relating to cross-border GDPR enforcement procedures, whose inefficiency have plagued the landmark data protection law. Consumer groups have repeatedly flagged the slowness and complex procedures for cross-border enforcement of the GDPR as a major barrier to effective protection of consumers’ personal data.

The European Consumer Organisation’s Executive Board has appointed Agustín Reyna as the next Director General. He will be taking over from the current DG, Monique Goyens, who is retiring this year after having led the consumer group network for almost 17 years.

Agustín will take office on 15 June. Monique will support the organisation until end of October to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.

Agustín, who hails from Argentina and is also a Belgian citizen, started his career at BEUC in 2010. He is currently BEUC’s Director of Legal and Economic Affairs, a member of the management team, and leading the organisation’s competition and financial services priorities. Throughout the recruitment process, supported by a recruitment agency, and that received several excellent applications, Agustin’s profile has been outstanding for his knowledge of the European consumer movement, his expertise in consumer policy matters, and for his advocacy and relationship skills.

Today, the Commission has launched investigative proceedings against Meta, Google and Apple for failing to comply with the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, in a move that will encourage consumers that they will get greater choice in online markets.

The European Health Data Space agreed today by the EU institutions is a step forward to improve healthcare. However, the institutions should have given more choice to people to decide for themselves who their data is shared with, and for what purpose.