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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13783
Contents Publication in full By article 12 / 22
SECTORAL POLICIES / Digital

WhatsApp could soon be subject to strictest DSA rules

The European Commission is reportedly considering designating WhatsApp as a ‘very large online platform’ (‘VLOP’) in the coming months. When questioned on Friday 9 January, the institution pointed out that, although the messaging platform did exceed the required threshold of users to be potentially designated, with its 46.8 million monthly active users in the EU, some technical details were still outstanding (see EUROPE B13584A29).

“We need to verify and distinguish between the...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
MERCOSUR: “historic” trade agreement headed towards becoming a reality with green light from EU Member States
TRADE: European Commission clarifies application of EU rules against unfair foreign subsidies
SYRIA: EU calls for closer relations with Damascus with new cooperation framework
LEBANON: EU welcomes efforts to disarm non-state political groups
IRAN: in response to Tehran’s criticism of European Parliament’s hypocrisy, Roberta Metsola makes same remark to Tehran
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
GREENLAND: S&D, EPP, Renew Europe and Greens in European Parliament ready to condemn US threats to Greenland
SECTORAL POLICIES
TRANSPORT: air passenger rights - MEPs set to approve their position at second reading
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: EU Member States generally welcome ‘automotive’ package
COMPETITIVENESS: rare raw materials - European Commission wants to gauge willingness of EU27 to establish “strategic partnership” with United States
COMPETITIVENESS/INTERNAL MARKET: Industrial Accelerator Act “to be ‘law par excellence for ‘Made in Europe’”, promises Stéphane Séjourné
DIGITAL: X’s restricting Grok AI to paying users “doesn’t change” fundamental issue, says European Commission
DIGITAL: WhatsApp could soon be subject to strictest DSA rules
FOOD SAFETY: EU agriculture ministers to discuss import controls on 26 January
ENERGY: ACER introduces three new indicators to measure effectiveness of grid-enhancing technologies in electricity transmission
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECB: six candidates vie for vice-presidency of Frankfurt monetary institute
FINANCE/CLIMATE: European Supervisory Authorities publish joint guidelines on ESG stress tests
NEWS BRIEFS
ECONOMY: loan to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027—EU Council green-lights establishing enhanced cooperation
EMPLOYMENT: closure of Audi plant in Brussels—European Commission proposes mobilising €7.5 million from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
GUATEMALA: EU Council extends sanctions against eight Guatemalan officials and one Guatemalan entity until January 2027
RUSSIA: Giorgia Meloni calls for special European envoy on Ukraine
SWITZERLAND: Roberta Metsola and Hadja Lahbib present at tribute to victims of Crans-Montana fire
TURKEY: Isabel Wiseler-Lima calls on authorities to halt country’s democratic decline