- Parliament committed to guaranteeing fundamental rights and creating a level playing field in the internal market
- Balance vital to ensure consumer choice and avoid lock-in effects while encouraging technological innovation
- Enforcement and sanctions indispensable in ensuring a high level of consumer protection online
Parliament regards the Digital Services and Digital Markets Act as cornerstones of a fair and safe online environment for all Europeans.
After the European Commission’s presentation of the proposals, the Chairs of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee and Legal Affairs Committee issued the following statements:
“Regulating the digital single market is one of the biggest challenges we are currently facing to ensure a high level of consumer protection and fair competition for businesses. I welcome the proposals on the Digital Services and Digital Markets Act, which aim to harmonise the digital single market, control online platforms, and create a level playing field in the internal market. Citizens' rights and freedoms must be at the heart of the proposal. The need to guarantee consumers the same rights online and offline is greater than ever. We must therefore consider the gatekeeper role of big platforms to ensure consumer choice and avoid detrimental lock-in effects. Unfortunately, the proposal remains too flexible on enforcement and sanctions, which are vital to ensuring a high level of consumer protection in the internal market,” said Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, DE), Chair of Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.
“The proposal for the regulation of a Single Market for Digital Services is an ambitious project, which aims to establish a regulatory EU framework adapted to the digital realities of the 21st century. The success of this project is a priority for Parliament during this mandate. We will work tirelessly to adopt legislation that balances two key principles: guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights and European consumer protection standards, while strengthening an ecosystem that promotes technological innovation and the development of the digital economy as a cornerstone of prosperity and wealth for the future of Europe”, said Adrián Vázquez Lázara (Renew, ES), Chair of Legal Affairs Committee.
Background
On 20 October, Parliament adopted two legislative initiatives and one non-legislative report ahead of the Commission’s presentation, which outlined its priorities for rules on digital services. These range from binding rules to remove illegal content to stronger consumer protection and user safety. MEPs also insisted on specific rules to prevent market failures caused by big platforms and demanded stricter rules for online advertising, including targeted and curated content.
The current EU rules for digital services have remained largely unchanged since the e-commerce directive was adopted twenty years ago. With the proposals, the European Union aims to shape the digital economy at EU level as well as setting the highest standards on user safety and security.
Parliament will start its work on the legislative texts as soon as possible.
Kontakty:
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Inga HÖGLUND
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Yasmina YAKIMOVA
Press Officer