Komisja Rynku Wewnętrznego i Ochrony Konsumentów

On 25 February, Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) held an exchange of views with former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. The discussion addressed the recent visa sanctions imposed by the United States on Breton, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, Josephine Ballon and Clare Melford, as well as the broader implications for Europe’s digital rulebook and digital sovereignty.

On 25 February, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee discussed the European Commission’s latest report assessing the state of the EU Single Market and its impact on competitiveness. The report underlines that competitiveness and completion of the Single Market go hand in hand — two sides of the same coin. Built around four pillars and supported by 29 performance indicators, it offers an overview of progress achieved and identifies areas where further action is needed.

A new study analysing the “Digital Omnibus” package, was presented at IMCO on 26 February. It outlines the main changes that the Commission proposed across key digital rules on data, privacy, cybersecurity, and AI. It identifies interlinks and overlaps between existing legislative acts. In addition, the study is highlighting issues requiring parliamentary scrutiny, improving legal certainty, strengthening enforcement, and safeguarding the right of the consumers.

On 26 February, MEPs approved an opinion addressing how social media and the online environment affect young people. The text proposes measures to strengthen the protection of minors online, clarify platform responsibilities and improve enforcement across the EU. It also supports setting a common European age limit for social media, whereby young people would need to be at least 16 to use these platforms, unless authorised by parents, while access would not be allowed for children under 13.

As part of the reform of the Union Customs Code, the future home of the forthcoming EU Customs Authority is under discussion. Following the October 2025 agreement on selection criteria, nine Member States submitted bids to host the agency. With the Commission’s assessments now published, IMCO held a Question-and-Answer session on 28 January 2026, allowing Members of the European Parliament to scrutinise candidates and their submitted applications.

Co-Rapporteur Arba Kokalari presented the report on the “Digital Omnibus on artificial intelligence". The amendments aim to simplify how the EU’s AI Act is applied and enforced. The report proposes adjustments to implementation timelines and clarifies certain obligations for companies and authorities to ensure the rules can be applied more effectively and consistently across the EU.

On 27 January, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen outlined recent developments in digital policy and reported on the enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, including the first DSA non-compliance decision adopted in December 2025 and the ongoing first review of the DMA. Members questioned the Executive Vice-President on issues across her portfolio, notably the proposed 28th regime, the effectiveness of DMA and DSA enforcement, and Europe’s digital sovereignty.

On 29 January 2026, co-rapporteurs Dimitris Tsiodras (ENVI) and Piotr Müller (IMCO) presented a report proposing changes to EU chemicals legislation. The initiative aims to simplify selected requirements and procedures under existing rules on chemicals, cosmetics and fertilising products. The objective is to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and compliance costs, particularly for SMEs, while maintaining a high level of protection for human health and the environment.

SHEIN attended the 27 January 2026 meeting following repeated invitations in recent months that the company had previously declined. The appearance came amid heightened parliamentary focus on online marketplaces and their compliance with EU product safety, consumer protection, and online platform rules, as IMCO Members intensified oversight of the Commission’s enforcement actions within the single market.