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European Consumer Organisation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BEUC (Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs)
Formation1962
TypeNon-governmental organisation
PurposeConsumer protection
Location
  • Belgium, Brussels
Members45
President
Arnold Koopmans
Director General
Agustín Reyna
Main organ
Executive Board
Websitewww.beuc.eu

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 represents its members[2] 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.

BEUC has subscribed to the European Union’s Transparency Register under the following registration number: 9505781573-45.[3]

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.[4][5]

BEUC was one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to represent consumers’ interests in the decision-making process.[6] Many others followed, and the number of lobbyists rose exponentially to the present-day figure of over 15,000.

BEUC has its own archives stored and catalogued in the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU). The archives are hosted by the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and represent over 30 linear metres and 931 files summing up BEUC history between 1962 and 2018.[7]

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,[8] 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.[9]

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
Croatia Unija potrosaca Hrvatske
Cyprus Cyprus Consumers’ Association - CCA
Czech Republic dTest
Denmark Forbrugerrådet Tænk
Finland Kuluttajaliitto ry
France Consommation, logement et cadre de vie - CLCV
UFC-Que Choisir
Germany Stiftung Warentest
Verbraucherzentrale 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. ^ "Our members | BEUC". www.beuc.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  3. ^ "organisation detail - European Union". transparency-register.europa.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  4. ^ Docter, Koen (21 March 2019). "The Early Years of the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, 1962-1985". SSRN.
  5. ^ bloomsbury.com. "The Making of Consumer Law and Policy in Europe". Bloomsbury. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  6. ^ "History | BEUC". www.beuc.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  7. ^ "History | BEUC". www.beuc.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Member profile". www.consumersinternational.org. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  9. ^ "CESEE: Empowering the consumer movement in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe". beuc.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
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