The European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) witnessed a sharp divergence on April 16, 2026, during a debate centered on proposed reforms to EU digital market regulations. The main split was between MEPs Maria Kovač, advocating for stronger EU-wide powers and tighter regulations, and Peter Jensen, emphasizing national sovereignty and limiting EU overreach.
Kovač called for enhanced EU powers to enforce digital market rules uniformly across member states. She proposed concrete measures including the creation of a dedicated EU Digital Market Enforcement Authority with a budget of €100 million, empowered to impose fines up to 5% of annual turnover on non-compliant platforms by 2028. This proposal echoes similar calls made by MEP Alessandra Rossi during the IMCO debate on April 15, 2026, who also advocated for a centralized EU Digital Markets Agency with enforcement powers and binding deadlines. Kovač stressed that these measures would strengthen consumer protection and create a level playing field for EU producers, especially smaller tech firms struggling against large multinational platforms. Her speech outlined specific deadlines and enforcement targets, signaling a clear push towards deeper European integration.
In contrast, Jensen warned against over-centralization, arguing for the preservation of national authorities' prerogatives in regulating digital markets. He critiqued the proposed enforcement body as potentially bureaucratic and costly, suggesting it could hinder economic growth and innovation by imposing heavy compliance costs. Jensen’s stance favored flexibility, allowing member states to tailor rules according to their digital economies. This position aligns with concerns raised by MEP Tomasz Lewandowski in the April 15 IMCO debate, who highlighted risks of stifling innovation and overly burdensome rules on businesses. Similarly, during the ITRE-TRAN meeting on April 15, MEP Schmidt cautioned against overregulation, emphasizing the importance of preserving national sovereignty and business competitiveness. However, Jensen’s arguments were less detailed, relying mainly on general assurances about protecting business competitiveness and innovation without offering measurable targets or deadlines.
Taking place in the IMCO committee meeting, this confrontation highlighted a classic cleavage in EU policymaking: the tension between increasing EU integration and preserving national sovereignty. The debate also brought up the balance between stronger consumer protections through regulation and maintaining the competitiveness of digital businesses within the EU. This follows earlier clashes in IMCO on March 24, 2026, where MEP Alice Dubois advocated for robust harmonization of digital market rules, while MEP Marco Rossi defended national authorities' prerogatives. The April 16 debate also occurs amid broader scrutiny of digital regulation, including the European Commission's evaluation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) for coherence with the DSA, DMA, and EMFA, announced on April 10, 2026.
The proposed establishment of a new EU enforcement agency would tangibly increase regulatory supervision and transparency but also significantly raise administrative and compliance costs for digital platforms operating across Europe. Consumer groups and EU regulators might welcome the increased enforcement capacities, while digital businesses, especially startups and mid-sized companies, might face new operational burdens that could constrain innovation. The Commission has also been vigilant on Google's Android developer verification plans, as signaled by Commissioner von der Leyen on April 8, 2026, and further scrutinized on April 15, 2026, regarding potential DMA breaches.
The next steps likely involve further scrutiny of the impact assessments and possibly adjustments to the enforcement agency’s scope and budget. National authorities may push for safeguards ensuring their continued role in regulation, while consumer advocates will urge firm deadlines and strong sanctions. This debate signals an ongoing negotiation on how far to take EU digital market integration, balancing efficiency, sovereignty, and economic competitiveness.