RegRally Insights: Consumer Protection Regulation

ECOVIS ProventusLaw introduces the newest regulatory announcements and legal issues in consumer protection law, such as accessibility, product safety, etc.

EU’s Affordable Energy Action Plan: Key Takeaways for Consumers

The European Commission’s Affordable Energy Action Plan (February 2025) introduces measures to reduce household energy costs and enhance consumer protections while supporting the transition to clean energy.

Key consumer benefits

Easier Supplier Switching: New guidance to remove switching barriers could save households €150-200 per year.
Support for Energy Communities: Households producing, using, and selling renewable energy may save €500-1,100 annually.
Lower Electricity Taxes: The Commission is advocating for revising the Energy Taxation Directive to cut electricity taxes while phasing out fossil fuel exemptions.

Stronger Protections for Vulnerable Consumers

Energy Poverty Measures: Targeted assistance includes energy efficiency improvements and flexible billing options to prevent disconnections.
Transparent Pricing & Billing: Consumers will receive clearer energy consumption and pricing data to optimise usage during lower-cost hours.
Subsidies for Energy Efficiency: Support continues for programs providing LED light bulbs and efficient appliance subsidies.

This plan, set to launch in Q3 2025, reinforces the Energy Union’s social dimension, ensuring consumers benefit from a more affordable and sustainable energy market.

EU Strengthens Fight Against Online Consumer Fraud

To combat the rising threat of online consumer fraud, the European Commission hosted an expert workshop on February 21, 2025, uniting key enforcement networks and stakeholders across Europe. In 2024, nearly half of EU consumers were affected by online fraud, prompting urgent action.

Key measures discussed

Enhanced Cooperation: The workshop brought together CPC, ECC Networks, Europol, and national law enforcement to strengthen cross-border enforcement.
Advanced Fraud Detection: Experts explored AI-powered tools and data-driven strategies to detect and prevent emerging scams.
Trend Monitoring: Stakeholders mapped new fraud patterns, ensuring a proactive and adaptable regulatory response.

This initiative underscores the EU’s commitment to protecting consumers and cracking down on digital fraud through enhanced collaboration and cutting-edge technology.

US Threatens Over Digital Market Regulations, BEUC Urges EU to Stand Firm

The US Administration announced on February 21 plans to launch an investigation and threatened trade retaliation against the European Union over its digital market regulations – specifically the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA).

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) strongly condemned these US threats, stating that the EU must enforce laws adopted by its sovereign and democratic institutions. BEUC Director General Agustín Reyna emphasised, “it is extremely worrying to see the US Administration threatening trade retaliation in response to lobbying by Big Tech companies.”

The US Administration justifies its decision by claiming that EU regulations discriminate against American technology companies. A bipartisan group of US Congress members had previously expressed concerns that the EU’s digital market policies “will harm US competitiveness by unfairly advantaging European firms.”