“The European Consumer Organisation”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

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 43 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.

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

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

Kilpailu- ja kuluttajavirasto - KKV

Kuluttajaliitto-Konsumentförbundet

Consommation, logement et cadre de vie - CLCV

UFC Que Choisir

Stiftung Warentest

Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband – vzbv

Association for the Quality of Life - EKPIZO

Consumers' Protection Center - KEPKA

National Federation of Associations for Consumer Protection in Hungary - FEOSZ

Országos Fogyasztóvédelmi Egyesület - OFE

Iceland}}

Neytendasamtökin - NS

Ireland}}

Consumers' Association of Ireland - CAI

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

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

Confederación de consumidores y usuarios – CECU

Organización de consumidores y usuarios – OCU

Sweden}}

Sveriges Konsumenter

Switzerland}}

Fédération romande des consommateurs - FRC

Citizens Advice

Which?

History

Activities

Members

See also

External links

References