The European Consumer Organisation

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BEUC (Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs)

Formation	1962
Type	Non-governmental organisation
Purpose	Consumer protection
Location	Belgium, Brussels
Members	46
President	Arnold Koopmans
Director General	Monique Goyens
Main organ	Executive Board (13 representatives)
Website	[1]

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 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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
	Which?

See also[edit]

• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
• International Consumer Research & Testing (ICRT)
• List of consumer organizations
• Super-complaint
• Consumer protection

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Archives of BEUC at the Historical Archives of the European Union
• Official website
• Cojef
• Confinad
• Trace