The Council of the EU wants competition authorities to carry more weight in the future ‘Digital Market Act’ (DMA) (see EUROPE 12623/1). At least, this is what has emerged from a progress report by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council on 6 May.
“While Member States generally acknowledge that the Commission should have a central role in the implementation and enforcement of the Digital Markets Act, a majority of Member States called for further consideration of the role of Member States, including competent national authorities, for example in the opening of market investigations, market monitoring and in the decision-making procedure”, says the report.
A number of Member States have also emphasised the need to detail the framework for cooperation and information sharing between the Commission and the Member States, and have asked for clarification on the legal basis of the text, the gatekeeper designation (see EUROPE 12697/17), the interaction between the DMA and other legislation, and on regulatory obligations and costs.
However, in addition to these important clarifications, the Presidency has also stated that there is “a strong and general support among the Member States for the level of ambition of the proposal, its overall objectives and the need for swift approval”, in terms of applying the DMA.
The progress report is due to be submitted to the Competitiveness Council on 27 May, as is the EU Council’s progress report on the Digital Services Act (DSA), regarding which the Presidency states in a document, also dated 6 May, that “most Member States” support the legal basis of the text.
To read the DMA progress report: https://bit.ly/3hckNzH
Read the DSA progress report: https://bit.ly/3uF4AqK (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)