Monique Goyens

EU decision makers can supercharge the shift to electric vehicles

Despite progress, barriers remain to electric vehicle (EV) uptake in eastern and southern Europe. But the right EU policies can speed up the electric mobility shift across the continent, benefiting consumers and the environment, argue Monique Goyens and Julia Poliscanova.

Consumers will only renovate their homes if it’s easy and affordable

Consumers are willing and ready to play their part in the green housing transition, but they will need guidance and support along the way, writes Monique Goyens.

COVID-19 means tackling energy poverty is more urgent than ever

The COVID-19 crisis is hitting European consumers in the pocket, causing rising unemployment and falling income for those who have kept their jobs. Spending more time at home as a result of lockdown measures could make matters worse for energy...

Why the EU shouldn’t ditch regulated energy prices just yet

If the energy market fails to deliver affordable prices for those in a vulnerable situation, it should not trample people’s right to live a decent life. A way to limit harm is to avoid prices going too high, writes Monique Goyens.

No, the EU does not want to ban your chips

Recently, headlines in Germany and Austria might have made you shiver with fear: “The. EU. Wants. To. Ban. Crispy. Chips”. No less! The same EU which dictates the shape of our bananas and cucumbers is now meddling with our chips. Or is it, asks Monique Goyens.

Are we about to change the way we use electricity?

As Europe’s electricity system undergoes a major transformation, consumers may be expected to change some of their habits. But this will only happen if consumers have something to gain from these changes and they are given a proper choice, says Monique Goyens.

A once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix Dieselgate

To restore consumer trust, the European Parliament must agree an overhaul of EU rules for approving and checking a vehicle’s performance. It is now or never, writes Monique Goyens.

What does an innovation agenda mean for consumers?

Innovation and consumer protection are not opposites. Indeed there is huge potential to use innovation to deliver safer products that benefit consumers, writes Monique Goyens.

Since when is TTIP not a BIG deal?

If the European Commission wishes to live up to its promise to take protection of our standards seriously, it has to cut short on its spin that a deal by the end of this year is still achievable, writes Monique Goyens.

An Energy Union for consumers: Better information and more choice

European energy companies must provide better information to consumers, helping them to understand what they are paying for and whether they getting value for money, writes Věra Jourová.

Fuel consumption test for passenger cars: Enough waiting

The European Commission has failed to live up to its promise of adopting a new test to measure the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of passenger cars and must now deliver as a matter of urgency, writes Monique Goyens in an open letter to the EU executive.

Consumers deserve correct fuel consumption figures

Outdated EU testing requirements allow car makers to advertise fuel consumption figures that bear little relation to real life performance on the road. Not only are these false claims but the testing weaknesses are also bringing into doubt the performance of the automobile sector to cut its carbon footprint, writes Monique Goyens.