MEP Andreas Schwab (PPE) has asked the European Commission whether it would consider amending the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) to include an explicit reference to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), in order to strengthen regulatory cooperation between the EU and the UK on digital competition matters.
The question, submitted on 2 July 2026, notes that several third countries, including the UK with its Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, have adopted or are developing ex ante regulations inspired by the DMA. Schwab argues that the challenges posed by digital gatekeepers do not stop at the EU's borders and that closer cooperation between the European Commission and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority is essential.
The MEP asks whether the Commission has considered using the TCA's amendment procedures to insert a reference to the DMA in the competition policy chapter. The question does not specify a timeline or numerical targets but signals a push for deeper EU-UK alignment on digital market regulation.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will indicate whether the executive is open to formalising cooperation with the UK on DMA enforcement, which could affect businesses operating in both markets, particularly large digital platforms designated as gatekeepers. The proposal would also have implications for UK regulators, who would gain a formal coordination mechanism with the EU, and for EU consumers, who could benefit from more consistent enforcement across jurisdictions. However, amending the TCA requires agreement from both parties, and the UK may resist explicit references that could be seen as aligning too closely with EU rules.