BETA

Activities of Stéphanie YON-COURTIN related to 2020/0374(COD)

Plenary speeches (2)

Digital Markets Act (debate)
2021/12/14
Dossiers: 2020/0374(COD)
Digital Services Act - Digital Markets Act (debate)
2022/07/04
Dossiers: 2020/0374(COD)

Opinions (1)

OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act)
2021/10/28
Committee: ECON
Dossiers: 2020/0374(COD)
Documents: PDF(421 KB) DOC(263 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Stéphanie YON-COURTIN', 'mepid': 197581}]

Amendments (105)

Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
(13) In particular, online intermediation services, online search engines, operating systems, online social networking, web browsers, video sharing platform services, number- independent interpersonal communication services, cloud computing services and online advertising services all have the capacity to affect a large number of end users and businesses alike, which entails a risk of unfair business practices. They therefore should be included in the definition of core platform services and fall into the scope of this Regulation. Online intermediation services should be considered irrespective of the technology used to provide such services. In this sense, virtual or voice activated assistants and other connected devices fall within the scope of this Regulation whether their software is considered an operating system, an online intermediation service or a search engine. Online intermediation services may also be active in the field of financial services, and they may intermediate or be used to provide such services as listed non-exhaustively in Annex II to Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council32 . In certain circumstances, the notion of end users should encompass users that are traditionally considered business users, but in a given situation do not use the core platform services to provide goods or services to other end users, such as for example businesses relying on cloud computing services for their own purposes. _________________ 32Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services, OJ L 241, 17.9.2015, p. 1.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
(25) Such an assessment can only be done in light of a market investigation, while taking into account the quantitative thresholds. In its assessment the Commission should pursue the objectives of preserving and fostering the level of innovation, the quality of digital products and services, the degree to which prices are fair and competitive, and the degree to which quality or choice for business users and for end users is or remains high. Elements that are specific to the providers of core platform services concerned, such as extreme scale economies, very strong network effects, an ability to connect many business users with many end users through the multi-sidedness of these services, lock-in effects, a lack of multi- homing or vertical integration, can be taken into account. The potential negative and positive impacts of these elements for business users, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and consumers should be taken into consideration. In addition, a very high market capitalisation, a very high ratio of equity value over profit or a very high turnover derived from end users of a single core platform service can point to the tipping of the market or leveraging potential of such providers. Together with market capitalisation, high growth rates, or decelerating growth rates read together with profitability growth, are examples of dynamic parameters that are particularly relevant to identifying such providers of core platform services that are foreseen to become entrenched. The Commission should be able to take a decision by drawing adverse inferences from facts available where the provider significantly obstructs the investigation by failing to comply with the investigative measures taken by the Commission.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
(31) To ensure the effectiveness of the review of gatekeeper status as well as the possibility to adjust the list of core platform services provided by a gatekeeper, the gatekeepers should inform the Commission of all of their intended and concluded acquisitions of other providers of core platform services or any oprior to their services provided within the digital sectorimplementation. Such information should not only serve the review process mentioned above, regarding the status of individual gatekeepers, but will also provide information that is crucial to monitoring broader contestability trends in the markets where gatekeepers operate, in particular in the digital sector and can therefore be a useful factor for consideration in the context of the market investigations foreseen by this Regulation. and under EU Merger control Regulation
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
(33) The obligations laid down in this Regulation are limited to what is necessary and justified to address the unfairness of the identified practices by gatekeepers and to ensure contestability in relation to core platform services provided by gatekeepers. Therefore, the obligations should correspond to those practices that are considered unfair by taking into account the features of the digital sector and where experience gained, for example in the enforcement of the EU competition rules, shows that they have a particularly negative direct impact on the business users and end users. The obligations laid down in the Regulation should specifically take into account the nature of the core platform services provided and the presence of different business models. In addition, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of a regulatory dialogue with gatekeepers to tailor those obligations that are likely to require specific implementing measures in order to ensure their effectiveness and proportionality. The obligations should only be updated after a thorough investigation on the nature and impact of specific practices that may be newly identified, following an in-depth investigation, as unfair or limiting contestability in the same manner as the unfair practices laid down in this Regulation while potentially escaping the scope of the current set of obligations.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
(35) The obligations laid down in this Regulation are necessary to address identified public policy concerns, there being no alternative and less restrictive measures that would effectively achieve the same result, having regard to the need to safeguard public order, protect privacy and fight fraudulent and deceptive commercial practices.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
(36) The conduct of combining end user data from different sources or signing in users to different services of gatekeepers gives them potential advantages in terms of accumulation of data, thereby raising barriers to entry. To ensure that gatekeepers do not unfairly undermine the contestability of core platform services, they should enable their end users to freely choose to opt-in to such business practices by offering a less personalised alternativebut equivalent alternative . The less personalized alternative should not be different or of degraded quality compared to the service offered to the end users who provide consent to the combining of their personal data. The possibility should cover all possible sources of personal data, including own services of the gatekeeper as well as third party websites, and should be proactively presented to the end user in an explicit, clear and straightforward manner. Consent should be given in a clear, informed and specific way by the end user who should be informed that a refusal may lead to a less personalized offer but the quality and functionnalities of the core platform service will remain unchanged.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
(37) Because of their position, gatekeepers might in certain cases restrict the ability of business users of their online intermediation services to offer their goods or services to end users under more favourable conditions, including price, through other online intermediation services, their own interface or direct channel. Such restrictions have a significant deterrent effect on the business users of gatekeepers in terms of their use of alternative online intermediation services, limiting inter-platform contestability, which in turn limits choice of alternative distributive channels including alternative online intermediation channels for end users. To ensure that business users of online intermediation services of gatekeepers can freely choose alternative online intermediation services and differentiate the conditions under which they offer their products or services to their end users, it should not be accepted that gatekeepers limit business users from choosing to differentiate commercial conditions, including price. Such a restriction should apply to any measure with equivalent effect, such as for example increased commission rates or, de-listing or less favourable ranking of the offers of business users.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
(38) To prevent further reinforcing their dependence on the core platform services of gatekeepers, the business users of these gatekeepers should be free in promoting and choosing the distribution channel they consider most appropriate to interact with any end users that these business users have already acquired through core platform services provided by the gatekeeper. Conversely, end users should also be free to choose offers of such business users and to enter into contracts with them either through core platform services of the gatekeeper, if applicable, or from a direct distribution channel of the business user or another indirect distribution channel such a business user may use. This should apply to the promotion of offers, any communications and conclusion of contracts between business users and end users. Moreover, the ability of end users to freely acquire content, subscriptions, features or other items outside the core platform services of the gatekeeper should not be undermined or restricted. In particular, it should be avoided that gatekeepers restrict end users from access to and use of such services via a software application running on their core platform service. For example, subscribers to online content purchased outside a software application download or purchased from a software application store should not be prevented from accessing such online content on a software application on the gatekeeper’s core platform service simply because it was purchased outside such software application or software application store.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 235 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39 a (new)
(39 a) The national competition authorities should gather complaints from third parties on unfair behaviours by gatekeepers that fall within the scope of this Regulation and report relevant cases to the Commission. Based on clearly defined conditions and investigation priorities, the Commission should then examine the complaints and act accordingly by, for example, opening a formal market investigation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 239 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
(40) Identification and ancillary services are crucial for the economic development of business users to conduct their business, as these can allow them not only to optimise services, to the extent allowed under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council33 , [1],but also to inject trust in online transactions, in compliance with Union or national law. Gatekeepers should therefore not use their position as provider of core platform services to require their dependent business users to include any ancillary and identification services provided by the gatekeeper itself as part of the provision of services or products by these business users to their end users, where other identification services are available to such business users. _________________ 33Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications) (OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37).
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 247 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42
(42) The conditions under which gatekeepers provide online advertising services to business users including both advertisers and publishers are often non- transparent and opaque. This opacity is partly linked to the practices of a few platforms, but is also due to the sheer complexity of modern day programmatic advertising. The sector is considered to have become more non-transparent after the introduction of new privacy legislation, and is expected to become even more opaque with the announced removal of third-party cookies. This often leads to a lack of information and knowledge for advertisers and publishers about the conditions of the advertising services they purchased and undermines their ability to switch to alternative providers of online advertising services. Furthermore, the costs of online advertising are likely to be higher than they would be in a fairer, more transparent and contestable platform environment. These higher costs are likely to be reflected in the prices that end users pay for many daily products and services relying on the use of online advertising. Transparency obligations should therefore require gatekeepers to provide advertisers and publishers to whom they supply online advertising services, when requested and to the extent possible, with easily, accessible and real-time information that allows both sides to understand the price paid for each of the different advertising services provided as part of the relevant advertising value chain.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 46 a (new)
(46 a) Securing default positions across the main search access points of an operating system, such as the pre-installed browser, the home screen bar widget, or the voice assistant, can entrench the dominant position of an established core platform service and prevent contestability on digital markets. Even where users can change the default manually, they rarely do so, due to behavioral bias. In order to ensure contestability, end users should be able to select their preferred core platform service default through a preference menu when they set up their device. End users should be able to access such preference menu after the device is set up. A gatekeeper may not offer compensation or benefits to hardware manufacturers or network operators, or otherwise require them to offer its core platform service pre- installed or set as a default as these practices prohibit third-party business users to bid for pre-installation or for a default position.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48 a (new)
(48 a) Gatekeepers can offer software applications or services which may be used on, or in conjunction with, a core platform service, such as operating systems or cloud computing services, offered by the same gatekeeper. If, in such circumstances, the gatekeeper prevents end users being able to use their software applications or services on, or in conjunction with, products or services of alternative providers under equal conditions as with the products or services of the gatekeeper, this could significantly undermine choice for end users and innovation by alternative providers. It should therefore be ensured that gatekeepers do not restrict to their advantage and to the detriment of alternative providers, end users and business users in choosing the products or services of alternative providers which they use in conjunction with the core platform service offered by the gatekeeper.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 290 #
5. Member States shall not impose on gatekeepers further obligations by way of laws, regulations or administrative action for the purpose of ensuring contestable and fair markets. This is without prejudice to rules pursuing other legitimate public interests, in compliance with Union law. In particular, nothing in this Regulation precludes Member States from imposing obligations, which are compatible with Union law, on undertakings, including providers of core platform services where these obligations are unrelated to the relevant undertakings having a status of gatekeeper within the meaning of this Regulation in order to protect consumers or to fight against acts of unfair competition.
2021/09/09
Committee: ECON
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Without prejudice to the previous paragraph, if a Member State deems it necessary to maintain or introduce national provisions on grounds of major needs referred to in Article 36 TFEU, to ensure a high level of consumer protection or to fight against acts of unfair competition and unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships, it shall notify the Commission of these provisions as well as the grounds for maintaining them.
2021/09/09
Committee: ECON
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. The Commission shall, within six months of the notification, approve or reject the national provisions involved after having verified whether or not they are a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between Member States and whether or not they shall constitute an obstacle to the functioning of the internal market. In the absence of a decision by the Commission within this period the national provisions shall be deemed to have been approved. When justified by the complexity of the matter, the Commission may notify the Member State concerned that the period referred to in this paragraph may be extended for a further period of up to six months.
2021/09/09
Committee: ECON
Amendment 296 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. When a Member State is authorised to maintain or introduce said national provisions, the Commission shall immediately examine whether to propose an adaptation to this Regulation.
2021/09/09
Committee: ECON
Amendment 307 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 57
(57) ICore platform services provided by gatekeepers, and in particular gatekeepers which provide access to software application stores, serve as an important gateway for business users that seek to reach end users. In view of the imbalance in bargaining power between those gatekeepers and business users of their software application storcore platform services, those gatekeepers should not be allowed to impose general conditions, including pricing conditions, data usage conditions or conditions related to the licensing of rights held by the business user that would be unfair or lead to unjustified differentiation. Pricing or other general access or treatment conditions should be considered unfair if they lead to an imbalance of rights and obligations imposed on business users or confer an advantage on the gatekeeper which is disproportionate to the service provided by the gatekeeper to business users or lead to a disadvantage for business users in providing the same or similar services as the gatekeeper. The following benchmarks can serve as a yardstick to determine the fairness of general access conditions: prices charged or conditions imposed for the same or similar services by other providers of software application storesthe relevant core platform service; prices charged or conditions imposed by the provider of the software application storegatekeeper for different related or similar services or to different types of end users; prices charged or conditions imposed by the provider of the software application storegatekeeper for the same service in different geographic regions; prices charged or conditions imposed by the provider of the software application store for the same service the gatekeeper offers to itself. This obligation should not establish an access right and it should be without prejudice to the ability of providers of software application storcore platform services to take the required responsibility in the fight against illegal and unwanted content as set out in Regulation [Digital Services Act].
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 59 a (new)
(59 a) Within the implementation timeframe of their obligations, designated gatekeepers should inform the Commission about the measures implemented to achieve effectiveness. Such information should be made available to concerned third parties of undertakings regarding the protection of their business secrets.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 331 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62
(62) In order to ensure the full and lasting achievement of the objectives of this Regulation, the Commission should be able to assess whether a provider of core platform services should be designated as a gatekeeper without meeting the quantitative thresholds laid down in this Regulation; whether systematic non- compliance by a gatekeeper warrants imposing additional remedies; and whether the list of obligations addressing unfair practices by gatekeepers should be reviewed and additional practices that are similarly unfair and limiting the contestability of digital markets should be identified; and whether the prior designation of gatekeepers or introduction of obligations has had a significant impact on business users, especially on small and medium-sized enterprises, or consumers. Such assessment should be based on market investigations to be run in an appropriate timeframe, by using clear procedures and deadlines, in order to support the ex ante effect of this Regulation on contestability and fairness in the digital sector, and to provide the requisite degree of legal certainty.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 336 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 63
(63) Following a market investigation, an undertaking providing a core platform service could be found to fulfil all of the overarching qualitative criteria for being identified as a gatekeeper. It should then, in principle, comply with all of the relevant obligations laid down by this Regulation which are appropriate and necessary to guarantee contestability. However, for gatekeepers that have been designated by the Commission as likely to enjoy an entrenched and durable position in the near future, the Commission should only impose those obligations that are necessary and appropriate to prevent that the gatekeeper concerned achieves an entrenched and durable position in its operations. With respect to such emerging gatekeepers, the Commission should take into account that this status is in principle of a temporary nature, and it should therefore be decided at a given moment whether such a provider of core platform services should be subjected to the full set of gatekeeper obligations because it has acquired an entrenched and durable position, or conditions for designation are ultimately not met and therefore all previously imposed obligations should be waived.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 64
(64) The Commission should investigate and assess whether additional behavioural, or, where appropriate, structural remedies are justified, in order to ensure that the gatekeeper cannot frustrate the objectives of this Regulation by systematic non- compliance with one or several of the obligations laid down in this Regulation, which has further strengthened its gatekeeper position. This would be the case if the gatekeeper’s size in the internal market has further increased, economic dependency of business users and end users on the gatekeeper’s core platform services has further strengthened as their number has further increased and the gatekeeper benefits from increased entrenchment of its position. The Commission should therefore in such cases have the power to impose any remedy, whether behavioural or structural, having due regard to the principle of proportionality. Structural remedies, such as legal, functional or structural separation, including the divestiture of a business, or parts of it, should only be imposed either where there is no equally effective behavioural remedy or where any equally effective behavioural remedy would be more burdensome for the undertaking concerned than the structural remedy. Changes to the structure of an undertaking as it existed before the systematic non- compliance was established would only be proportionate where there is a substantial risk that this systematic non- compliance results from the very structure of the undertaking concerned. The Commission should be able to impose interim measures at any time during proceedings to prevent serious or immediate damages for business users or end users.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 343 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 65 a (new)
(65 a) Interim measures can be an important tool to ensure that, while an investigation is ongoing, the infringement being investigated does not lead to serious and immediate damage for business users or end users of gatekeepers. In case of urgency, where a risk of serious and immediate damage for business users or end-users of gatekeepers could result from new practices that may undermine contestability of core platform services, the Commission should be empowered to impose interim measures by temporarily imposing obligations to the gatekeeper concerned. These interim measures should be limited to what is necessary and justified. They should apply pending the conclusion of the market investigation and the corresponding final decision of the Commission pursuant to Article 17.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 351 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 67 a (new)
(67 a) The Commission shall, where appropriate, be entitled to require the commitments to be tested, for example, by using split-run tests and other randomised experiments, in order to optimise their effectiveness. The commitments should be reviewed after they have been in place for an appropriate period. Where the review of the commitments by the Commission shows that they have not led to effective compliance, the Commission should be entitled to require amendment or revocation thereof.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 361 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 72
(72) The Commission should be able to take the necessary actions to monitor the effective implementation and compliance with the obligations laid down in this Regulation. Such actions should include the ability of the Commission to appoint independent external experts, such as and auditors to assist the Commission in this process, including where applicable from competent independent authorities, such as data or consumer protection authorities.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 368 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 75
(75) In the context of proceedings carried out under this Regulation, the undertakings concerned should be accorded the right to be heard by the Commission and the decisions taken should be widely publicised. While ensuring the rights to good administration and the rights of defence of the undertakings concerned, in particular, the right of access to the file and the right to be heard, it is essential that confidential informationand sensitive commercial information, which could affect the privacy of trade secrets, be protected. Furthermore, while respecting the confidentiality of the information, the Commission should ensure that any information relied on for the purpose of the decision is disclosed to an extent that allows the addressee of the decision to understand the facts and considerations that led up to the decision. Finally, under certain conditions certain business records, such as communication between lawyers and their clients, may be considered confidential if the relevant conditions are met.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 372 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 78
(78) The Commission should periodically evaluate this Regulation and closely monitor its effects on the contestability and fairness of commercial relationships in the online platform economy, in particular with a view to determining the need for amendments in light of relevant technological or commercial developments. This evaluation should include the regular review of the list of core platform services and the obligations addressed to gatekeepers as well as enforcement of these, in view of ensuring that digital markets across the Union are contestable and fair. In order to obtain a broad view of developments in the sector, the evaluation should take into account the experiences of Member States and relevant stakeholders. The Commission may in this regard also consider the opinions and reports presented to it by the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy that was first established by Commission Decision C(2018)2393 of 26 April 2018, by Eurostat, and by the national statistics offices of the countries where the service providers operate. Following the evaluation, the Commission should take appropriate measures. The Commission should to maintain a high level of protection and respect for the common EU rights and values, particularly equality and non-discrimination, as an objective when conducting the assessments and reviews of the practices and obligations provided in this Regulation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 79 a (new)
(79 a) The Commission shall apply the provisions of this Regulation in close cooperation with the competent national competition authorities, acting within the framework of the European Competition Network, to ensure effective enforceability as well as coherent implementation of this Regulation and to facilitate the cooperation with national authorities.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 79 b (new)
(79 b) Without prejudice to the budgetary procedure and through existing financial instruments, adequate human, financial and technical resources should be allocated to the Commission to ensure that it can effectively perform its duties and exercise its powers as necessary for the enforcement of this Regulation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 390 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) related to electronic communications services as defined in point (4) of Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2018/1972 other than those related to number-independent interpersonal communication services as defined in point (4)(b7) of Article 2 of that Directive.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 391 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. This Regulation shall not apply to the data that is used to maintain or improve security of online transactions and prevent fraud.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 392 #
5. In order to ensure the frictionless and coherent application of this Regulation throughout the internal market and to guarantee a fully harmonized approach, the European Commission shall be the sole enforcer and decision maker on the correct application of the rules and obligations outlined in this Regulation. Member States shall not impose on gatekeepers further obligations by way of laws, regulations or administrative action for the purpose of ensuring contestable and fair markets. This is without prejudice to rules pursuing other legitimate public interests, in compliance with Union law. In particular, nothing in this Regulation precludes Member States from imposing obligations, which are compatible with Union law, on undertakings, including providers of core platform services where these obligations are unrelated to the relevant undertakings having a status of gatekeeper within the meaning of this Regulation in order to protect consumers or to fight against acts of unfair competition.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 399 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. In addition to Article 32a, national competition authorities shall notify the Commission at least four weeks before the opening of any formal proceedings against any provider of core platform services if there is any possible overlap with the scope of this Regulation in order to ensure close coordination and cooperation at Union and national level.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 411 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 7
7. National authorities shall not take decisions which would run counter to a decision adopted by the Commission under this Regulation. The Commission and Member States shall work in close cooperation and coordination in their enforcement actions on the basis of the principles and rules established in Article 32a.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 433 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point h a (new)
(h a) web browsers;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 437 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point h b (new)
(h b) virtual assistants;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 442 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
(3 a) ‘Virtual assistant’ means software that can perform tasks or services for end- users based on commands or questions;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 443 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 b (new)
(3 b) ‘Web browser’ means a client software program that runs against a Web server or other Internet server and enables a user to navigate the World Wide Web to access and display data, including standalone web browsers as well as web browsers integrated or embedded in software or similar;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 445 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) ‘Online search engine’ means a digital service as defined in point 5 of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150, thus excluding the search functions on other online intermediation services;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 499 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) it enjoys an entrenched and durable position in its operations or it is foreseeable that it will enjoy such a position in the near future.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 526 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Where a provider of core platform services meets all the thresholds in paragraph 2, it shall notify the Commission thereof within threewo months after those thresholds are satisfied and provide it with the relevant information identified in paragraph 2.. That notification shall include the relevant information identified in paragraph 2 for each of the core platform services of the provider that meets the thresholds in paragraph 2 point (b). The notification shall be updated whenever other core platform services individually meet the thresholds in paragraph 2 point (b).
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 535 #
4. The Commission shall, without undue delay and at the latest 60 days after receiving the complete information referred to in paragraph 3, designate the provider of core platform services that meets all the thresholds of paragraph 2 as a gatekeeper, unless that provider, with its notification, presents sufficiently substantiated arguments to demonstrate that, in the circumstances in which the relevant core platform service operates, and taking into account the elements listed in paragraph 6,When a provider of a core platform service fails to provide within the deadline the relevant information required to assess its designation as gatekeeper pursuant to Article 3 (2), the Commission shall be entitled to designate theat provider does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1as a gatekeeper based on the facts available.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 545 #
6. The Commission may identify as a gatekeeper, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15, any provider of core platform services that meets each of the requirements of paragraph 1, but does not satisfy each of the thresholds of paragraph 2, or has presented sufficiently substantiated arguments in accordance with paragraph 4.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 554 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the ability of the undertaking to implement conglomerate strategies, in particular through its vertical integration or its significant leverage in related markets;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 558 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) the degree of multi-homing among business users and active end users;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 574 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 8
8. The gatekeeper shall comply with the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 withiand shall notify the Commission of the details of its compliance with those obligations as soon as possible, and in any case no later than six months after a core platform service has been included in the list pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 584 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The Commission shall regularly, and at least every 2 years, review whether the designated gatekeepers continue to satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 3(1), or whether new providers of core platform services satisfy those requirements. The regular review shall also examine whether the list of affected core platform services of the gatekeeper needs to be adjusted and if any business users, especially small and medium-sized enterprises or consumers, have been negatively impacted by the designation of a core platform service as a gatekeeper.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 602 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) refrain from combining personal data sourced from these core platform services with personal data from any other services offered by the gatekeeper or with personal data from third-party services, and from signing in end users to other services of the gatekeeper in order to combine personal data, unless the end user has been presented with the specific choice and provided consent in the sense of Regulation (EU) 2016/679. ;.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 612 #
(b) allow business users to offer the same products or services to end users by any other means, including through third party online intermediation services and through the business users’ own direct online sales channels at prices or conditions that are different from those offered through the online intermediation services of the gatekeeper;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 623 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) allow business users to promote offers to or communicate with end users acquired via the core platform service, within or outside the core platform service, and to conclude contracts with these end users regardless of whether for that purpose they use the core platform services of the gatekeeper or not, and allow end users to access and use, through the core platform services of the gatekeeper, content, subscriptions, features or other items by using the software application of a business user, where these items have been acquired by the end users from the relevant business user without using the core platform services of the gatekeeper, unless the gatekeeper can demonstrate that such access bypasses the security measures of the gatekeeper's core platform service;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 624 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) allow business users to promote offers to end users acquired viaor to otherwise communicate with end users within or outside the core platform service, and to conclude contracts with these end users or receive payments for services provided regardless of whether for that purpose they use the core platform services of the gatekeeper or not, and allow end users to access and use, through the core platform services of the gatekeeper, content, subscriptions, features or other items by using the software application of a business user, where these items have been acquired by the end users from the relevant business user without using the core platform services of the gatekeeper;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 649 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) refrain from requiring business users to use, offer or interoperate with an identificationy ancillary services of the gatekeeper in the context of services offered by the business users using the core platform services of that gatekeeper;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 673 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) provide individual advertisers and publishers to which it supplies advertising services, upon their request, with information concerningon the visibility and availability of advertisement portfolio as well as pricing conditions concerning the bids placed by advertisers and advertising intermediaries, the price paid by the advertiser and publisher, as well as the amount or remuneration paid to the publisher, for the publishing of a given ad and for each of the relevant advertising services provided by the gatekeeper.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 675 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) provide advertisers and publishers to which it supplies advertising services, upon their request, and free of charge, with continuous, easy and real-time access with information concerning the price paid by the advertiser and publisher, as well as the amount or remuneration paid to the publisher, for the publishing of a given ad and for each of the relevant advertising services provided by the gatekeeper.,
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 715 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) refrain from using, in competition with business users, any data not publicly available, ,which is generated through or in the context of activities by those business users, including by the end users of these business users, of its core platform services or of its ancillary services or which is provided by those business users of its core platform services or its ancillary services or by the end users of these business users;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 722 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) allow end users to un-install any pre-installed software applications on its core platform service and refrain from exclusively enabling its own core platform services as default services when equivalent alternative services which perform the same function can be proposed, without prejudice to the possibility for a gatekeeper to restrict such un-installation in relation to software applications that are essential for the functioning of the operating system or of the device and which cannot technically be offered on a standalone basis by third- parties;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 723 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) allow end users to un-install any pre-installed software applications, and delete the accompanying collected and stored data, on its core platform service without prejudice to the possibility for a gatekeeper to restrict such un-installation in relation to software applications that are essential for the functioning of the operating system or of the device and which cannot technically be offered on a standalone basis by third- parties;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 743 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) refrain from treating differently or more favourably in ranking, display, installation, activation, or default settings, services and products offered by the gatekeeper itself or by any third party belonging to the same undertaking compared to similar services or products of third party and apply fair and non- discriminatory conditions to such ranking, display, installation, activation and default settings;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 761 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) refrain from technically restricting the ability of end users to switch between and subscribe to different software applications and services to be accessed using the operating system or the cloud computing services of the gatekeeper, including as regards the choice of Internet access provider for end users, or using its virtual assistant;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 762 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) refrain from technically restricting the ability of end users to switch between and subscribe to different software applications and services to be accessed using the operating system of the gatekeeper, including as regards the choice of Internet access provider for end users, or using its virtual assistant;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 771 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) allow business users, end users and providers of ancillary services a free of charge access to and interoperability with the same operating system, hardware or software features, that are available or used in the provision by the gatekeeper of any ancillary services; or industry-standard features of its core platform services; in such cases, access and interoperability conditions shall be fair, reasonable and non-discriminator;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 786 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) provide advertisers and publishers, or third parties authorised by advertisers and publishers, upon their request and free of charge, with access to the performance measuring tools of the gatekeeper and the information necessary for advertisers and publishers to carry out their own independent verification of the ad inventory, including aggregated data and performance data in a manner that would allow advertisers and publishers to run their own verification and measurement tools to assess performance of the core services provided for by the gatekeepers;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 803 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i
(i) provide business users, or third parties authorised by a business user, free of charge, with effective, high-quality, continuous and real-time access and use of aggregated or non-aggregated data, that is provided for or generated in the context of the use of the relevant core platform services or of ancillary services offered by the gatekeeper by those business users and the end users engaging with the products or services provided by those business users; for personal data, provide access and use only where directly connected with the use effectuated by the end user in respect of the products or services offered by the relevant business user through the relevant core platform service, and when the end user opts in to such sharing with a consent in the sense of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679; ;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 805 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i
(i) provide business users, or third parties authorised by a business user, free of charge, with effective, high-quality, continuous and real-time access and use of aggregated orand non-aggregated data, that is provided for or generated in the context of the use of the relevant core platform services by those business users and the end users engaging with the products or services provided by those business users; for personal data, provide access and use only where directly connected with the use effectuated by the end user in respect of the products or services offered by the relevant business user through the relevant core platform service, and when the end user opts in to such sharing with a consent in the sense of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679; ;
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 814 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k
(k) apply fair and non-discriminatory general conditions of access and treatment for business users to its software application storecore platform services including software application store, cloud computing services, online search engines and online social networking services designated pursuant to Article 3 of this Regulation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 820 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(k a) provide its end users with clear, fair and non-discriminatory licensing conditions, including in terms of charges and fees, preventing material changes limiting the use of software applications or services which are used on, or in conjunction with a core service platform of the gatekeeper, and securing the reasonable expected use of the software application or services, including after its transfer to another end user if applicable. In principle, these unilateral changes do not prevent undertakings from breaking their contract and migrating to another cloud solution, but in practice this solution appears to be costly and complex and enterprises are forced to accept these contractual changes that are notfavorable to them. The purpose of the amendment is to create a new obligation that allows users to freely use their licenses when using a cloud service.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 822 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(k a) refrain from imposing on business users or end users software applications or services which are used on, or in conjunction with a core service platform of the gatekeeper, any licensing conditions or economic terms that have the effect of limiting, in a discriminatory manner relative to the gatekeeper’s own offerings, end users’ ability or economic incentive to use software applications or services on, or in conjunction with, products or services that compete with those of the gatekeeper for instance by attributing a preferential treatment to its own offerings which would bring them forward to the attention of the end users or business users.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 847 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Within six months after its designation and in application of paragraph 8 of Article 3, the gatekeeper shall provide the Commission with a report describing in a detailed and transparent manner the measures implemented to ensure compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6. This report shall be updated at least annually.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 849 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Along with the report mentionned in paragraph 1a and within the same timeframe, the gatekeeper shall provide the Commission with anon-confidential summary of its report that will be published by the Commission without delay. The non-confidential summary shall be updated at least annually according to the detailed report.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 852 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Where tThe Commission finds thatmay by decision specify the measures that the gatekeeper intends to implement pursuant to paragraph 1, or has implemented, do not ensure effectiveconcerned shall implement in order to compliancey with the relevant obligations laid down in Article 6, it may by decision specify the measures that the gatekeeper concerned shall implement. The Commission shall adopt such a decision within six months from the opening of proceedings pursuant to Article 18. In view of adopting the decision, the Commission shall take into account the information provided by interested third parties, governments and relevant authorities of the Member States The Commission shall adopt such a decision within six months from the opening of proceedings pursuant to Article 18. The Commission must be supported, where appropriate, by resources and information to address the asymmetry of information with gatekeepers.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 854 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Where the Commission finds that the measures that the gatekeeper intends to implement pursuant to paragraph 1, or has implemented, do not ensure effective compliance with the relevant obligations laid down in Article 6, it may act on its own initiative and may by decision specify the measures that the gatekeeper concerned shall implement. The Commission shall adopt such a decision wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian six months from the opening of proceedings pursuant to Article 18.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 870 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. In view of adopting the decision under paragraph 2, the Commission shall communicate its preliminary findings within three months from the opening of the proceedings. In the preliminary findings, the Commission shall explain the measures it considers to take or it considers that the provider of core platform services concerned should take in order to effectively address the preliminary findings. Interested third parties that are directly implicated shall be able to provide comments on these preliminary findings.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 872 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. In view of adopting the decision under paragraph 2, the Commission shall communicate its preliminary findings wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian three months from the opening of the proceedings. In the preliminary findings, the Commission shall explain the measures it considers to take or it considers that the provider of core platform services concerned should take in order to effectively address the preliminary findings.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 890 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission may, on a reasoned request by the gatekeeper, exceptionally suspend, in whole or in part, a specific obligation laid down in Articles 5 and 6 for a core platform service by decision adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4), where the gatekeeper demonstrates that compliance with that specific obligation would endanger, due to exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the gatekeeper, the economic viability of the operation of the gatekeeper in the Union, and only to the extent necessary to address such threat to its viability. The Commission shall aim to adopt the suspension decision without delay and at the latest 3 months following receipt of a complete reasoned request. The suspension decision shall be accompanied by a reasoned statement explaining the grounds for the suspension.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 899 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. Where the suspension is granted pursuant to paragraph 1, the Commission shall review its suspension decision every year. Following such a review the Commission shall either in whole or in part lift the suspension or decide that the conditions of paragraph 1 continue to be met.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 902 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In assessing the request, the Commission shall take into account, in particular, the impact of the compliance with the specific obligation on the economic viability of the operation of the gatekeeper in the Union as well as on third parties, in particular smaller business users and consumers. The suspension may be made subject to conditions and obligations to be defined by the Commission in order to ensure a fair balance between these interests and the objectives of this Regulation. Such a request may be made and granted at any time pending the assessment of the Commission pursuant to paragraph 1.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 911 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Where the exemption is granted pursuant paragraph 1, the Commission shall review its exemption decision every year. Following such a review, the Commission shall either lift the exemption or decide that the conditions of paragraph 1 continue to be met.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 919 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The delegated acts that update the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 in accordance with the first subparagraph shall be limited to: (a) extending any obligation that applies to a certain core platform service or to any other core platform service listed in point (2) of Article 2; (b) specifying the manner in which the obligations of the gatekeepers under Articles 5 and 6 are to be implemented, including through the incorporation of specifications under point (2) of Article 7 into the obligations; (c) extending any obligation that identifies a certain subset of users as beneficiaries to any other subset of users as beneficiaries; (d) supplementing or amending the obligations with a view to improving the effectiveness of the application of those obligations and preventing their circumvention.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 927 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) there is an imbalance of rights and obligations on business users andor the gatekeeper is obtaining an advantage from business users that is disproportionate to the service provided by the gatekeeper to business users; or
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 936 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. A gatekeeper shall ensure that the obligations of Articles 5 and 6 are fully and effectively complied with. While the obligations of Articles 5 and 6 apply in respect of core platform services designated pursuant to Article 3, their implementation shall not be undermined by any behaviour of thea gatekeeper, including any undertaking to which the gatekeeper belongs, shall not engage in any behaviour regardless of whether this behaviour is of a contractual, commercial, technical or any other nature that would undermine these obligations.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 947 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. A gatekeeper shall not degrade the conditions or quality of any of the core platform services provided to business users or end users who avail themselves of the rights or choices laid down in Articles 5 and 6, or make the exercise of those rights or choices unduly difficult, including by offering choices to the end- user in a non-neutral manner, or by subverting user's autonomy, decision- making, or choice via the structure, function or manner of operation of a user interface or a part thereof.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 955 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. A gatekeeper shall inform the Commission of any intended concentration within the meaning of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 involving another provider of core platform services or of any other services provided in the digital sector irrespective of whether it is notifiable to a Union competition authority under Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 or to a competent national competition authority under national merger rules.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 960 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
A gatekeeper shall inform the Commission of such a concentration at least 2 months prior to its implementation and following the conclusion of the agreement, the announcement of the public bid, or the acquisition of a controlling interest.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 962 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The Commission shall make this information available to national competition authorities.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 965 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The notification of information pursuant to paragraph 1 shall at least describe for the acquisition targets their EEA and worldwide annual turnover, for any relevant core platform services their respective EEA annual turnover, their number of yearly active business users and the number of monthly active end users, as well as the rationale of the intended concentration.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 973 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Within six months after its designation pursuant to Article 3, a gatekeeper shall submit to the Commission an independently audited description of any techniques for profiling of consumers that the gatekeeper applies to or across its core platform services identified pursuant to Article 3. The gatekeeper shall make publicly available an overview of the audited description taking into account the limitations imposed by the requirements of business secrecy. This description and its publicly available overview shall be updated at least annually. This description shall be updated at least annually.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 986 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. In the course of a market investigation pursuant to paragraph 1, the Commission shall endeavour to communicate its preliminary findings to the provider of core platform services concerned wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian six months from the opening of the investigation. In the preliminary findings, the Commission shall explain whether it considers, on a provisional basis, that the provider of core platform services should be designated as a gatekeeper pursuant to Article 3(6).
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 994 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. Where the provider of core platform services satisfies the thresholds set out in Article 3(2), but has presented significantly substantiated arguments in accordance with Article 3(4), the Commission shall endeavour to conclude the market investigation wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian five months from the opening of the market investigation by a decision pursuant to paragraph 1. In that case the Commission shall endeavour to communicate its preliminary findings pursuant to paragraph 2 to the provider of core platform services wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian three months from the opening of the investigation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1005 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission may conduct a market investigation for the purpose of examining whether a gatekeeper has engaged in systematic non-compliance. Where the market investigation shows that a gatekeeper has systematically infringed the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 and has further strengthened or extended its gatekeeper position in relation to the characteristics under Article 3(1), the Commission may by decision adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4) impose on such gatekeeper any behavioural or structural remedies which are proportionate to the infringement committed and necessary to ensure compliance with this Regulation. The Commission shall, where appropriate, be entitled to require the remedies to be tested to optimise their effectiveness. The Commission shall conclude its investigation by adopting a decision wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian twelve months from the opening of the market investigation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1014 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission may only impose structural remedies pursuant to paragraph 1 either where there is no equally effective behavioural remedy or where any equally effective behavioural remedy would be more burdensome for the gatekeeper concerned than the structural remedy.deleted
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1028 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission shall communicate its objections to the gatekeeper concerned wias soon as possible, and in any case no later thian six months from the opening of the investigation. In its objections, the Commission shall explain whether it preliminarily considers that the conditions of paragraph 1 are met and which remedy or remedies it preliminarily considers necessary and proportionate.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1044 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) The Commission shall be entitled to impose interim measures if there is a risk of serious and immediate damage for business users or end users of gatekeepers.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1057 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
The Commission mayand the competent national competition authorities, may, in accordance with Article 32a, interview any natural or legal person which consents to being interviewed for the purpose of collecting information, relating to the subject-matter of an investigation, pursuant to Articles 7, 16, 16, 17, 25 and 26, including in relation to the monitoring, implementing and enforcing of the rules laid down in this Regulation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1060 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, upon a prior notice, may conduct on- site inspections at the premises of an undertaking or association of undertakings.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1064 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a Reporting mechanism for business users and end-users 1. Business users, competitors and end- users of the core platform services as defined in point 2 of Article 2 may, by means of a complaint, report to the competent national competition authorities any practice or behaviour by gatekeepers that falls into the scope of this Regulation, including non-compliance. The competent national competition authorities shall assess these complaints and report relevant cases to the Commission under the procedure provided for in Article 32a. 2. The Commission shall define the conditions under which the reports referred to in paragraph 1 shall be submitted to it. 3. The Commission shall have the power to set its priorities for the task of examining the reports referred to paragraph 1. Subject to this paragraph and to Article 33, the Commission may decide not to examine a report if it deems that such report is not an enforcement priority. 4. When the Commission considers a report to be an enforcement priority, it may open proceedings pursuant to Article 18 or a market investigation pursuant to Article 14.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1067 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. In case of urgency due to the risk of serious and irreparablmmediate damage for business users or end users of gatekeepers, the Commission may, by decision adopt in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4), order interim measures against a gatekeeper on the basis of a prima facie finding of an infringement of Articles 5 or 6.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1069 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In the case of urgency, due to the risk of serious and immediate damage for business users or end users of gatekeepers, resulting from new practices implemented by one or more gatekeepers that could undermine contestability of core platform services or that could be unfair pursuant to Article 10(2), the Commission may impose interim measures on the concerned gatekeepers in order to avoid the materialization of such risk.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1070 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. A decision referred to in paragraph 1 may only be adopted in the context of a market investigation pursuant to Article 17 and within 6 months of the opening of such an investigation. The interim measures shall apply for a specified period of time and, in any case, shall be replaced by any new obligations that may arise under the final decision resulting from the market investigation pursuant to Article 17.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1074 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. If during proceedings under Articles 16 or 25 the gatekeeper concerned offers commitments for the relevant core platform services to ensure compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6, the Commission may by decision adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4) make those commitments binding on that gatekeeper and declare that there are no further grounds for action. The Commission shall, where appropriate, be entitled to require the commitments to be tested to optimise their effectiveness.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1089 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 3
3. In the non-compliance decision adopted pursuant to paragraph 1, the Commission shall order the gatekeeper to cease and desist with the non-compliance within an appropriate deadline and to provide explanations on how it plans to comply with the decisionimpose behavioural or structural remedies as necessary and proportionate to the infringement.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1145 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Digital Markets Advisory Committee. That Committee shall be a Committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. Each Member State shall appoint two representatives to the Committee. If the appointed representatives are unable to attend, other representatives may replace them. At least one of the representatives of a Member State shall be competent in matters of restrictive practices, abuses of dominant positions and other forms of unilateral conduct. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of confidential information by their representatives.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 a (new)
Article 32 a Coordination with Member States 1. In accordance with the principles laid down in Article 1, the Commission shall be the sole decision maker on the correct application of this Regulation. To ensure effective enforceability and coherent implementation, the Commission shall be supported in every possible way by the expertise of the competent national competition authorities. 2. The Commission may, therefore, ask competent national competition authorities to support any of its market investigations pursuant to this Regulation. However, competent national competition authorities shall not take decisions which run counter to a decision adopted by the Commission. 3. To this end, the Commission shall apply the provisions of this Regulation in close cooperation with the competent national competition authorities, acting within the European Competition Network as defined at point (5) of Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2019/1, in accordance with the provisions of this Article. It shall, in particular and as appropriate, make use of the European Competition Network System referred to in Article 33 of that Directive for the exchange of information. 4. Within this framework, the competent national competition authorities shall perform – inter alia – the following tasks: (a) synchronize national implementation, ensure that decisions based on this Regulation are coherent with related regulations and support the Commission in technical enforcement matters; (b) gather market intelligence on the ground and coordinate data collection and monitoring throughout the internal market including on enforcement, emerging gatekeepers, and technological trends; (c) submit complaints from business users, competitors and end-users as provided for in Article 21a to the Commission and raise awareness of specific concerns or issues emerging at national level; (d) at the request of the Commission, cooperate in the application of Articles 12, 15, 16 and 17 and otherwise assist the Commission in investigations. In this regard, the competent national competition authorities shall be entitled to exercise, mutatis mutandis, the following powers of the Commission: (i) requests for information as set out in Article 19 (ii) power to carry out interviews and take statements as set out in Article 20; and (iii) powers to conduct on-site inspections as set out in Article 21; (e) make recommendations to the Commission on the update of obligations under Articles 5 and 6 and advice the Commission in the preparation of delegated acts according to Article 10; (f) monitor the international context, generate knowledge on the developments outside the Union and share enforcement experience. 5. Member States shall ensure that their competent national competition authorities have the human, financial and technical resources that are necessary for the effective performance of their duties and exercise of their powers when applying Articles 101 and 102 TFEU as defined in paragraph 2 of this Article; 6. The Commission and the competent national competition authorities enforcing the rules referred to in Article 1(6) shall have the power to provide each other with any matter of fact or of law, including confidential information. The information supplied to the Commission may be made available to the competent national competition authorities of other Member States. The competent national competition authorities may also exchange between themselves information necessary for the assessment of a case that they are dealing with under this Regulation. 7. The competent national competition authorities shall, when acting pursuant to paragraph 3, inform the Commission in writing of the first formal investigative measure, before or immediately after the start of such measure. This information may also be made available to the competent national competition authorities of the other Member States.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1
1. When three or more Member States request the Commission to open an investigation pursuant to Articles 15, 16 and 17 or institute proceedings in respect of possible non-compliance pursuant to Article 25 because they consider that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a provider of core platform services should be designated as a gatekeeper, the Commission shall wiat a gatekeeper is not complying with its obligations as laid down in Articles 5 and 6, that one or more services within the digital sector should be added to the list of core platform services pursuant to point (2) of Article 2 or that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that one or several types of practices are not effectively addressed by this Regulation and can limit the contestability of core platform services or can be unfair, the Commission shall as soon as possible, and in any case no later thian four months examine whether there are reasonable grounds to open such an investigation.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Commission may adopt implementing acts concerning articles: 3, 6, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 25 and 30 with respect to:
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38 – paragraph 2
2. The evaluations shall establish whether inclusion of additional rules or deletion of the existing ones, including regarding the list of core platform services laid down in point 2 of Article 2, the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 and their enforcement, may be required to ensure that digital markets across the Union are contestable and fair. Following the evaluations, the Commission shall take appropriate measures, which may include legislative proposals.
2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO