2021 PROGRAMME

The Digital Markets Act contains rules that gatekeepers must follow to prevent them “imposing unfair conditions on business and consumers and at ensuring the openness of important digital services”.

Is the focus on contestability of markets sufficient and what will the impact be on innovation?

How to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and create regulations fitting diverse business models?

How can concerns of access to platforms, data, and operating systems be reconciled with the consumer and societal benefits of privacy, security and stability?

Does the European Commission have the resources to effectively enforce the regulation? What role for national enforcement bodies? How to encourage cooperation between Member states?

What international implications will market regulations have?

HIGHLIGHTS

Olivier Guersent: “Great interest for DMA. We have a long experience. Nothing revolutionary, we are building on an existing framework. Good as we need to get it right” / “When is the last time you saw a company innovating? Innovation comes from newcomers. That’s why contestability is key” / “Companies are testing the limits of what they can do. The issue is that in digital the pace is fast. DMA provides a clear framework of action for this” 

Guido Lobrano: “We fully endorse the goal of the DMA. We need a regulatory dialogue between policymakers and companies keeping in mind: 1. Presumptions and approximations have to be accurate 2. Account for specificities” / “More competition leads to more innovation. Regulatory fragmentation makes innovation slower. #DMA can do more on this. A shared dialogue can be useful” / “Focus on the core platform services, not on companies. We need to address the specific challenges, creating a dialogue between different stakeholders involved”

Andreas Schwab: “We are working on the contestability of markets. We believe that innovation is hampered. We need to focus on the gatekeepers on the basis of our legislation” / “In my opinion there can be no discussion between policymakers and companies. No discrimination but the choice is for the regulators” / “The gatekeepers are few. We need a residual clause to ban illicit behaviour. We want to see a level playing field with clear rules that apply to all companies”

Annabelle Gawer: “Lot to like in the current DMA proposal but some things could be improved. Positive: recognition of a small number of digital platforms. To be improved: code of conduct which should be customised to each gatekeeper.” / #DMA “The devil is in the details. The institutional arrangement of the implementation of theses rules is very important. Good relation between the digital platforms & the institutions is critical.”

Carel Maske: “In 20 years, Microsoft has become a regulated platform & realises that competition law enforcement is not enough. We’re supportive of the discussions on the DMA which will allow innovation to come forward & the digital market to dvlp.” / “DMA application- number of unintended consequences. We call for digital market to focus on intermediation / we need more clarity, regulatory dialogue. The more clarity we have the more effective the digital market will be.” / “What do we mean by ‘innovation’? Clarity has helped Microsoft to comply with the rules. Only if the market & the consumers know what to ask for there will be clarity to enable a smooth process.” / “We need to protect consumers. But some services are made exactly to benefit consumers. Some specific cases need to be addressed individually”