Press releases

The European Commission today unveiled an Action Plan to tackle ‘non-performing loans’ (NPLs) in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. NPLs - loans subject to late repayment or unlikely to be repaid -are expected to rise sharply once measures to support households and businesses put in place during the pandemic come to an end.

The EU’s German Presidency has just adopted conclusions on food labelling. Sadly, what were originally intended to be Council conclusions – signed off by all Member States – have been downgraded to non-unanimous Presidency conclusions, which send a weaker message.

The European Commission today put forward its plans to update the EU’s rules about digital services such as those offered by online search companies (e.g. Google), e-shops (e.g. Amazon) and social networks (e.g. Facebook). It also proposes legislation detailing dos and don’ts for so-called digital gatekeepers and new powers to investigate markets these companies operate on. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) supports this long-awaited legislation that would make digital players more accountable, protect consumer rights and lead to more choice of innovative digital services. We therefore welcome these proposals but the European Parliament and the EU Council must ensure the legislation goes further, particularly in relation to liability of online marketplaces to protect consumers and future-proof measures to address the problems created by online gatekeepers. The Parliament and Council must therefore resist the huge lobbying efforts of Big Tech companies to dilute these proposals.

An 11-country survey that contrasts mobility habits before COVID-19 with October 2020 shows that people expect to prefer individual forms of transport (bike, car) and more local travel after the pandemic.