EUROPEAN CONSUMERS - WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR EXPENSIVE FUELS - Filenews 4/4 by Theano Thiopoulou
Measures to protect consumers from (still) a fuel crisis are proposed by the European Consumer Organization (BEUC), through a new report published on April 2.
"Since the 2022 energy crisis, the EU has sought to strengthen the resilience of its energy markets by enhancing consumer protection and diversifying fossil fuel supply sources. Despite these efforts, the EU remains highly exposed to external geopolitical shocks and is not yet fully prepared to absorb a crisis of this magnitude."
It is proposed by the European Agency that national regulators monitor markets to ensure that competition keeps consumer prices under control and that final increases are made within the limits of the law. It is noted that crises, such as the current one, are often used by unscrupulous traders to take advantage of consumers and increase their profit margins, especially in highly concentrated markets.
The European Consumer Organisation suggests that Member States must provide urgent relief measures, such as immediate financial support to those most in need. For lower-income households, as reported by the European Consumer Organization, the crisis has already begun to have a negative impact, as many consumers find it difficult to fill their car tanks. For these consumers, Member States must provide urgent relief measures, such as immediate support. However, this type of direct financial support should be targeted at those who need it most. To do this, countries need to identify who can be considered vulnerable consumers.
The European Consumer Organization points out that countries should implement effective safeguards against the interruption of electricity and gas supplies. "Consumers are not responsible for this energy crisis and should not be forced to pay for it by cutting off their energy if they cannot meet the astronomically high bills." Secondly, it is pointed out that, when necessary, consumers should be able to pay their energy bills in instalments to make it easier for them to meet their payments.
While both systems, says the European Consumer Organization, are not legally guaranteed, energy providers should show proof of good faith and put them in place as soon as possible. Such measures would allow consumers to adapt quickly and avoid high bills.
It is also noted that the current crisis affects consumers in multiple ways beyond price increases. Since the beginning of the war, many passengers have seen their flights cancelled at the last minute and have been stranded abroad, sometimes for weeks. Thousands of consumers, says the European Agency, who have been affected by recent crises have been treated differently depending solely on the nationality of their airline.
Passengers travelling with non-EU carriers often have to organise and pay for their re-routing, accommodation and meals themselves, facing significant additional costs, estimated at an average of €770 per booking. The European Agency urges European policymakers to close existing legal loopholes, ensure equal protection for all passengers and guarantee fair competition by subjecting EU and non-EU air carriers to the same obligations.
