European Consumer Organisation

(Redirected from BEUC)

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC (/bɜːk/[1]), from the French name Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs, "European Bureau of Consumers' Unions") is an umbrella consumers' group, founded in 1962. Based in Brussels, Belgium, it brings together 45 European consumer organisations from 32 countries (EU, EEA and applicant countries).

BEUC (Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs)
Formation1962
TypeNon-governmental organisation
PurposeConsumer protection
Location
  • Belgium, Brussels
Members
46
President
Arnold Koopmans
Director General
Monique Goyens
Main organ
Executive Board (13 representatives)
Website[1]

BEUC represents its members and defends the interests of consumers in the decision process of the Institutions of the European Union, acting as the "consumer voice in Europe". BEUC does not deal with consumers’ complaints as it is the role of its national member organisations.

The organisation is funded by an EU grant, its member fees and other specific projects (see "External links"). In 2010, the operational budget of BEUC amounted to €2.9m. In 2012, it reached €3,160,000. In 2012, the EU funding represented 43% of the operational BEUC budget.

BEUC has subscribed to the European Union’s Transparency Register.[2]

History

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BEUC was created on 6 March 1962 by consumer organisations of Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. After working together for a number of years, these organisations decided to create a European association, based in Brussels.[3]

BEUC was one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to influence the decision-making process.[4] Many others followed, and the number of lobbyists rose exponentially to the present-day figure of over 15,000.

Activities

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The organisation’s work is divided into 8 priority areas: consumer rights and enforcement, digital rights, energy, financial services, food, health, safety & sustainability. Its priorities are defined by BEUC members who meet twice a year at the general assembly and at several experts’ meetings.

Additionally, BEUC has been watching closely the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations since their start in June 2013, safeguarding consumer interests in Europe. 'The consumer view on TTIP' is a blog signed by BEUC's Director General, Monique Goyens and examines the possible effects that a trade deal between the EU and US might have on consumers.

In 2012, BEUC celebrated its 50th anniversary. Some of the organisation's achievements in consumer-related areas include cross-border bank payments, GMO labelling and personal data protection.

At the international level, BEUC is a member of Consumers International,[5] the global federation of consumer groups. It is also active in the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), a forum of US and EU consumer organisations. BEUC is also active in empowering the consumer movement in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CESEE countries) carrying out several initiatives.[6]

Members

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Country Name of the association
  Austria Arbeiterkammer
Verein für Konsumenteninformation [de] – VKI
  Belgium Test-Achats / Test-Aankoop
  Bulgaria Bulgarian National Association Active Consumers (Aktivni potrebiteli) - BNAAC
  Cyprus Cyprus Consumers’ Association - CCA
  Czech Republic dTest
  Denmark Forbrugerrådet Tænk
  Estonia Eesti Tarbijakaitse Liit - ETL
  Finland Kilpailu- ja kuluttajavirasto - KKV
Kuluttajaliitto-Konsumentförbundet
  France Consommation, logement et cadre de vie - CLCV
UFC Que Choisir
  Germany Stiftung Warentest
Verbraucherzentrale [de] Bundesverband – vzbv
  Greece Association for the Quality of Life - EKPIZO
Consumers' Protection Center - KEPKA
  Hungary National Federation of Associations for Consumer Protection in Hungary - FEOSZ
Országos Fogyasztóvédelmi Egyesület - OFE
  Iceland Neytendasamtökin - NS
  Ireland Consumers' Association of Ireland - CAI
  Italy Altroconsumo
Consumatori Italiani per l'Europa - CIE
  Latvia Latvijas Patērētāju interešu aizstāvības asociācija - PIAA
  Lithuania Lietuvos vartotojų organizacijų aljansas - LVOA
  Luxembourg Union luxembourgeoise des consommateurs - ULC
  Macedonia Consumers' Organisation of Macedonia - OPM
  Malta Ghaqda tal-Konsumaturi - CA Malta
  Netherlands Consumentenbond
  Norway Forbrukerrådet
  Poland Federacja Konsumentów - FK
Stowarzyszenie Konsumentów Polskich - SKP
  Portugal DECO - Associação Portuguesa para a Defesa do Consumidor
  Romania APC România
  Slovakia ZSS - Association of Slovak Consumers
  Slovenia Zveza Potrosnikov Slovenije - ZPS
  Spain Confederación de consumidores y usuarios – CECU
Organización de consumidores y usuarios – OCU
  Sweden Sveriges Konsumenter
   Switzerland Fédération romande des consommateurs - FRC
  United Kingdom Citizens Advice
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BEUC - The Consumer Voice in Europe". YouTube. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. ^ "EU Transparency Register". www.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  3. ^ "BEUC? BEUK? BOUIK? BEEEOOK?". beuc.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  4. ^ "BEUC? BEUK? BOUIK? BEEEOOK?". beuc.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Member profile". www.consumersinternational.org. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  6. ^ "CESEE: Empowering the consumer movement in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe". beuc.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
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