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EU consumers
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- 1EU updates its anti-greenwashing rules: what to know▼What to know about the EU’s updated anti-greenwashing law
The European Union has updated its anti-greenwashing law, tightening rules on how companies make environmental claims about their products. The measures aim to stop vague or unverified sustainability labels, such as generic terms like 'eco-friendly' or 'climate neutral', unless backed by evidence. Businesses operating in the EU market will need to review their marketing, and consumer groups have broadly welcomed the stricter standards.
- 2European Commission urges EU countries to cut energy use●The European Commission called on EU countries to reduce gas and electricity consumption due to rising prices
The European Commission has called on EU member states to reduce their gas and electricity consumption amid rising energy prices. The appeal comes as households and industry across the bloc face high bills, and it signals Brussels' push for demand-side measures to ease pressure on the market. Member states' responses and any binding targets remain to be seen.
- 3
The European Union plans to introduce a €2 handling fee on small parcels imported from outside the bloc. The charge would apply to online orders shipped into the EU, adding a new cost to cross-border e-commerce purchases. The move is expected to affect shoppers buying from non-EU retailers and could draw criticism over added consumer costs.
- 4EU introduces mandatory labels for warranty and guarantee rights●Gewährleistung und Garantie: EU führt neue Verbraucher-Label ein Die neue Waschmaschine geht schon nach Wochen kaputt? V
The EU is introducing two mandatory labels to make it easier for consumers to understand their rights when products like washing machines break down shortly after purchase. The labels are meant to clearly distinguish statutory warranty rights from voluntary commercial guarantees, so shoppers no longer have to guess what coverage applies when goods fail within weeks of buying them.
- 5EU product liability expands beyond physical damage▼Beyond physical damage: The new scope of product liability in the EU
The European Union's updated product liability framework is widening its scope so claims no longer hinge solely on physical damage. Under the new rules, compensation can cover data loss, psychological harm and damage from software and AI-enabled products. Commentators say the shift significantly raises exposure for manufacturers and tech firms selling into the EU market.
- 6
New figures from the European Commission show that 5% of Europeans consumed alcohol every day in 2025. The statistic highlights that despite overall declines in drinking across much of the continent, a small but notable share of the population still drinks daily, a pattern linked in public health research to higher risks of liver disease, cancer and other harms. Health advocates are likely to use the data in ongoing debates over alcohol pricing, advertising and labelling rules across EU member states.
- 7Lobbyists push EU to roll back regulations●Lobbyisten bedrängen die # EU , sie wollen Regulierungen wieder abbauen, um freie Hand zu haben. Ob # CO2 - Handel, # Li
Lobbyists are pressuring the European Union to weaken or dismantle existing regulations so companies can operate with fewer restrictions. Critics say targets include the CO2 emissions trading system, the supply chain law, consumer protection, data privacy rules, and pesticide restrictions, warning that pesticides could return to fields and food. Commentators argue this serves corporate profit at the expense of public health and environmental safeguards.
- 8
New car registrations across the European Union rose 5.3% in the first eight months of the year, pointing to continued demand recovery in the bloc's automotive market. Industry observers see the growth as a sign of stabilising supply chains and steady consumer confidence, though the pace of the rebound remains modest by pre-crisis standards.