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Dutch call for extension of EU competition guidelines for tech companies

20-05-2019

As theDutch lib-dems recently calledfor additional competition regulation for tech companies, the ministry for Economic Affairs also switched from fostering digital platforms for the Dutch ecosystem to a more critical position on their market share.

EU guardrails for digital platforms

The Dutch deputy minister for Economic Affairs, Mona Keijzer (Christian-Democrats), calls for EU guardrails for digital platforms. In a letter to the Dutch parliament, she advocates to extend the authorization of the Directorate-General Competition.

The Dutch government wishes to extend the guidelines used by DG Competition and will actively search for support from other member states. This should be one of the objectives for the new European Commission.

The letter to the Dutch parliament mentions:

  • Specific concerns about technology companies that act as gatekeepers for consumers and businesses;
  • Wish for ex ante intervention by the Commission on EU level. For instance in tech acquisitions;
  • Current EU competition regulation provides sufficient tools and does not need to be adapted. But, the guidelines should be adapted.
  • DG Competition should be able to force digital platforms to share data on reasonable conditions or to actively offer options of other providers when platforms are used for cross-selling;
  • Thresholds in the current guidelines are aimed at turnover and market-share. These thresholds should be adapted as tech-acquisitions are not flagged based on the current guidelines. For instance, the EC could look at the value of a transaction in acquisitions.

The Dutch deputy-minister is likely to discuss this in the EU Competition Council on May 27/28.

Questions or request for more intel, shoot me an email atpwalraven@publicmatters.nl

The Dutch government wishes to extend the guidelines used by DG Competition and will actively search for support from other member states.

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