Brussels, Belgium – As the first anniversary of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) approaches, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) has expressed significant concerns regarding the regulation's impact. The DMA's obligations were first applied to designated 'gatekeepers' on March 7, 2024.
Over the past year, issues have emerged with the DMA and its enforcement. Structural flaws such as excessive compliance requirements are believed to degrade services for consumers. Additionally, businesses face constraints due to obligations that limit their operations. The focus on implementing unclear rules is also viewed as politicized.
Daniel Friedlaender, Senior Vice President and Head of CCIA Europe, stated: "Rather than adopting policies that penalise companies for being ‘too successful,’ the European Union should prioritise stimulating home-grown innovation positively, helping start-ups grow and scale up, and attracting tech talent and investment from abroad."
Friedlaender added: "CCIA Europe firmly believes EU regulations should be fair and non-discriminatory. In recent years, however, various senior EU officials and lawmakers have publicly alluded to the fact that EU digital regulations – and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in particular – were designed to target specific companies or shield legacy industries."
He continued: "This has undermined trust in Europe’s rulemaking. Issues such as disproportionate – or even politically driven – enforcement of laws like the DMA have rightly raised red flags."
Friedlaender concluded by emphasizing: "The new European Commission has a chance to show that EU digital rules can be applied fairly – without discrimination based on nationality or a company’s size – and to refrain from using the DMA as a political tool."
"The DMA process has created potentially harmful tradeoffs that Europe is only now beginning to untangle. It’s time to review rather than launch into damaging and politicised actions that will pull Europe backwards and harm our digital competitiveness."
CCIA Europe stresses that clear implementation of the DMA is crucial for ensuring fair digital markets and fostering innovation in Europe. They urge this should be a priority for the European Commission moving forward.
