The European Consumer Organisation

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC, 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
43
President
Örjan Brinkman
Director General
Monique Goyens
Main organ
Executive Board (10 representatives)
Websitewww.beuc.eu

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.[1]

History

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.[2]

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.[3] Many others followed, and the number of lobbyists rose exponentially to the present-day figure of over 15,000.

Activities

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 on 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,[4] 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.[5]

Members
Country Name of the association
 Austria Arbeiterkammer
Verein für Konsumenteninformation – 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 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

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