European Union
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Legal Structure | Government |
| Industry | |
| Also known as | EU |
| Official website | https://european-union.europa.eu/ |
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
Article 169 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union enables the EU to use its ordinary legislative procedure to protect consumers "health, safety and economic interests" and promote rights to "information, education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests".[1] All member states may grant higher protection, and a "high level of consumer protection" is regarded as a fundamental right.[2]
Consumer rights legislation
- Product Liability Directive (EU) 2024/2853
- replacing Product Liability Directive 85/374/EEC
- Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Directive 93/13/EEC
- Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC
- Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
- General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) (GDPR)
- Digital Markets Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/1925) (DMA)
- Anti-SLAPP Directive (EU) 2024/1069
- Right To Repair Directive (EU) 2024/1799 (R2RD)
Consumer protection
Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network coordinates national consumer authorities work at EU level, regulated by Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation (EU) 2017/2394. At national level consumer rights investigations and enforcement are carried out by relevant CPC actors – CPC single liaison offices and CPC competent authorities.
Incidents
This is a list of the most important consumer-protection incidents concerning European Union. Full list of relevant pages can be found under European Union category.
Chat Control
- Main article: Chat Control
In 2021, the EU passed the Regulation (EU) 2021/1232 ("Chat Control 1.0") on a temporary derogation from certain provisions of ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC (ePD) allowing providers to scan communications indiscriminately if they choose so.
So far, only unencrypted US communication services make use of these provisions. In March 2026, the European Parliament rejected a second extension of the regulation – the temporary directive provisions expired on the 3rd of April 2026. However Google, Meta, Microsoft and Snap announced that they will continue indiscriminate and warrentless scanning of private messages.[3]
On 11 May 2022 the European Commission presented a proposal ("Chat Control 2.0") which would have made chat control searching mandatory for all e-mail and messenger providers and would even have applied to so far securely end-to-end encrypted communication services. The regulation is expected to be adopted in July 2026, with possible amendments.[update needed]
Stop Destroying Videogames (ECI)
- Main article: Stop Killing Games
On 19 June 2024, "Stop Destroying Videogames" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.[4] A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures.
The collection of signatures ended 1 August 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In an announcement from the initiative campaigners on 24 January 2026, the final count of verified signatures was 1,294,188.[5] This has since been discussed by the EU.[citation needed]
Products
See also
References
- ↑ TFEU art 169
- ↑ TFEU art 169(3) and the CFREU art 38
- ↑ Chat Control: The EU’s CSAM scanner proposal – Patrick Breyer
- ↑ Ondruska, Daniel (19 Jun 2024). "Stop Destroying Videogames". European Citizens' Initiative. Archived from the original on 19 Jun 2024. Retrieved 10 Nov 2025.
- ↑ Mr_Presidentle (24 Jan 2026). "Stop Killing Games: Final Count of Verified Signatures of the European Citizens Initiative". Reddit. Archived from the original on 26 Jan 2026. Retrieved 25 Jan 2026.