EPICENTER

In order to deliver a successful strategy, to avoid conflicts between EU Member States and the European Commission, the best strategy is to conceive national competition authorities as the ‘executive arms’ of the new digital regulation, particularly when national players are affected. In this way, the knowledge and experience of national regulators can be put to best use.

The Consumer Choice Center interviewed our Director for a podcast on the Belarusian sanctions. Adam Bartha praised the EU for implementing further sanctions on the Lukashenko regime, but also expressed a need to go further to help the local population — through financial instruments and an open door policies for dissidents wishing to settle on EU soil.

The European Commission claims that the Digital Services Act (DSA) will deliver much-needed harmonisation and clarity of regulation. In fact, it introduces new risks and costs on businesses without adequate justification. If the European Commission aims to improve the competitiveness of Europe’s digital economy and to safeguard the interests of European consumers, its proposals must be significantly amended.

The ECB’s accounts have become the waste-bin for the financial garbage of the entire Eurozone. In this zero-sum game, there are winners and losers. At the moment, Northern European countries, Germany in particular, are losing. Looking at the legal structure of the new “Next Generation EU” scheme it becomes apparent that the “Eurobonds” that are about to be issued will be ultimately guaranteed by EU Member States, in proportion to the amounts they are about to receive.

A transatlantic tech partnership would spur collaborations between governments and companies to rebalance the rising Chinese tech industry. With optimal innovation policies, Chinese state-sponsored and state-affiliated tech companies may be held in check. We need a transatlantic tech partnership. Today, the EU proposal is not credible, even more so with the DMA.