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The Wilfried @MartensCentre, the official @EPP think thank, organizes an event to ask:
"Is the #DigitalMarketsAct giving the European Economy and Consumers what they need right now?"
Important detail: the event is "powered by Google".
Let's unpack a few things.quick thread
"Is the #DigitalMarketsAct giving the European Economy and Consumers what they need right now?"
Important detail: the event is "powered by Google".
Let's unpack a few things.quick thread
The event's programme is here: https://martenscentre.eu/sites/default/files/is_the_digital_markets_act_giving_the_european_economy_and_consumers_what_they_need_right_now_draft_programme.pdf
Let's look at the experts invited.
Let's look at the experts invited.
1- @leemakiyama from @ECIPE, whose recent study claims that "proposals for the Digital Services Act" (which haven't been published yet) will cost the EU 87€bn in GDP and 101€bn in consumer welfare. Like the event, the study is also "powered by Google".
https://ecipe.org/publications/ex-ante
https://ecipe.org/publications/ex-ante
I'm no economist, so let's see what @TomValletti, former Chief Economist at @EU_Competition had to say about the study (his thread below).
"This study is just ridiculous. Can journalists please avoid even mentioning it? Much appreciated."
Ok, moving on. https://twitter.com/TomValletti/status/1322204719033536515
"This study is just ridiculous. Can journalists please avoid even mentioning it? Much appreciated."
Ok, moving on. https://twitter.com/TomValletti/status/1322204719033536515
2- @datainnovation, which argues that the proposal:
"wrongly assumes that large platforms harm European consumers and businesses"
and
"will create unintended consequences on EU competitiveness, innovation, and consumer welfare".
Seeing a pattern? https://www.datainnovation.org/2020/06/response-to-the-european-commissions-inception-impact-assessment-for-an-ex-ante-regulatory-instrument/
"wrongly assumes that large platforms harm European consumers and businesses"
and
"will create unintended consequences on EU competitiveness, innovation, and consumer welfare".
Seeing a pattern? https://www.datainnovation.org/2020/06/response-to-the-european-commissions-inception-impact-assessment-for-an-ex-ante-regulatory-instrument/
So it looks like the event might be a somewhat one-sided conversation that may reflect the views of the event's sponsor. The EU policy bubble is unfortunately full of those.
By the way, is the Digital Markets Act what *consumers* need right now? Let's check.
By the way, is the Digital Markets Act what *consumers* need right now? Let's check.
. @beuc which regroups consumer organisations across Europe, sees a clear need and many promising benefits for consumers in the upcoming #DigitalMarketsAct proposal.
https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x-2020-079_digital_services_act_and_new_competition_tool.pdf
https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x-2020-079_digital_services_act_and_new_competition_tool.pdf
Ok, so it seems likely that only one side of the debate (arguably, Google's) will be represented at this EPP's think tank event.
But does the EPP political family share the same views on the #DigitalMarketsAct?
Let's check that out.
But does the EPP political family share the same views on the #DigitalMarketsAct?
Let's check that out.
European Commission President @vonderleyen (EPP), naturally agrees with what her services are preparing, and defends the DMA as a proposal that will:
"address timely the economic power of gatekeeper platforms, to protect fair competition and innovation." https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_20_2064
"address timely the economic power of gatekeeper platforms, to protect fair competition and innovation." https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_20_2064
The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution prepared in @EP_SingleMarket which unambiguously supports the necessity of additional ex ante regulation.
All EPP MEPs who voted, voted in favor.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0181_EN.html
All EPP MEPs who voted, voted in favor.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0181_EN.html
Germany, where the EPP is in Government, seems to be broadly on board with the direction of travel https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/germany-weighs-in-on-eus-bid-to-regulate-digital-giants/
The Netherlands, where the EPP is in Government, is definitely on board with the plans. https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/15/france-and-the-netherlands-signal-support-for-eu-body-to-clip-the-wings-of-big-tech/
Dutch Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs @MonaKeijzer (EPP) added that “Breaking up big companies can be a possibility.” https://www.ft.com/content/4a9ed79e-c8c8-4b47-8055-1cd029541c32
As a curiosity, @DeirdreCluneMEP (who also speaks at the above event) and @Andreas_Schwab asked the European Commission how they plan to shape and interlink different parts of the upcoming proposals:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2020-005320_EN.html
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2020-005320_EN.html
And so @vestager replied to explain:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2020-005320-ASW_EN.html
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2020-005320-ASW_EN.html
As the EU prepares to negotiate new rules which arguably have the biggest potential to reshape the digital economy that we have seen in years, how will the @EPP position itself as negotiations move along?
Stay tuned!
end of thread.
Stay tuned!
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