Do current EU consumer protection laws meet the challenges that consumers face in the digital space? The EU Commission has thoroughly examined this question and the answer is no. In a comprehensive report, the EU Commission largely confirms AK's analysis. The findings are now to be incorporated into the development of a Digital Fairness Act.

I will never drink again! This is the conclusion reached by many people who have had too much to drink over the holiday season and had to suffer the consequences. This is often followed by the resolution to abstain from alcohol for the whole of January. But "Dry January" is easier said than done, because alcohol is highly valued in our society. This is also due to the influence of the alcohol industry on legislation. Above all, however, political decision-makers should ensure that products are safe for consumers.

Europe's housing crisis has arrived on the EU policy agenda. With the appointment of an EU Commissioner responsible for this issue, Ursula von der Leyen wants the problem to be dealt with at the highest political level. However, many of the measures announced still seem rather vague, and overall the social dimension does not yet appear to be fully developed. Civil society and trade unions have many ideas on how housing can be organised in a more socially just way. The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) recently held a conference on this subject.

An update of travel law has been a topic in Brussels for years. The aim is to strengthen the rights of passengers, air travellers and package holidaymakers. The EU Commission finally presented its proposals in November 2023, also prompted by the crises of recent years. Adoption in the last legislative period was therefore no longer possible. The new EU Parliament is now starting its work and discussions are already underway in the Council. But how well will Europe's travellers be protected in the future?

Driven by massive farmers' protests, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intensified the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture announced in her 2023 State of the Union address. In January 2024, 29 organisations were invited to develop perspectives for European agriculture. The final report is now available.

Finance Watch has developed a financial reform agenda, calling for the reinforcement of EU financial regulation. Financial market stability must be ensured, and the financial system should serve people and the planet. Additionally, economic governance must be shaped so that investments in our future can be unlocked.

Sustainable consumption and the promotion of the circular economy play an important role in the green transition. Hence, the last legislative period saw a number of legislative initiatives at EU level to combat greenwashing, promote sustainable product design and facilitate access to repairs. These initiatives are also intended to help consumers make better informed purchasing decisions. On 23 April, the EU Parliament adopted the Ecodesign Regulation and the Right to Repair Directive by a large majority.

A study commissioned by AK analyses how the payout on maturity (capital benefit in the case of survival or at the end of the savings phase) and early termination (realisation of the surrender value or deposit value in the case of unit-linked life insurance policies) develop if the following assumptions and scenarios regarding the acquisition costs are used as the basis for the calculations: Commission-free policy with a fee paid by the insurance customer at the start of the contract (Variant 1), Distribution of the brokerage (sales) commission over the whole term of a life insurance contrac

On 28 June 2023, the European Commission published two proposals for regulations concerning the euro as legal tender: Regulation on the establishment of the digital euro (COM (2023) 369) and Regulation on the legal tender of euro banknotes and coins (COM (2023) 364). The two proposals combined are intended to achieve the central goal of de-facto and legal equivalence of the digital euro and euro cash as legal tender.

The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will soon be voting on two controversial topics: At the beginning of April 2024, a vote will be held on the introduction of the digital euro as a new means of payment. The EU Commission's Retail Investment Strategy, which has received far less public attention, will be put to the vote on 20 March 2024. The AK is calling for improvements for consumers.