Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera has ruled out amending the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) to include an explicit reference to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing that existing cooperation channels with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are sufficient. In a written answer to a parliamentary question from Andreas Schwab (EPP), Ribera said the Commission "currently does not see a need for legal amendments" to the TCA, despite the UK's adoption of its own ex ante digital competition regime, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Ribera's response, dated 30 July 2026, comes after the Fifth Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field under the TCA in October 2025, where the EU and UK exchanged updates on the implementation of the DMA and the DMCCA. She noted that additional conversations with the CMA are taking place at both senior and working levels, and that these are "mutually beneficial," though company confidential information can only be shared with a waiver from the companies concerned.
The Commission's position reflects a preference for flexible, informal cooperation over formal treaty changes, which would require complex amendment procedures under the TCA. Ribera also highlighted broader international engagement, citing a cooperation arrangement signed in July 2025 between the Commission's DG CONNECT and DG COMP with the Japan Fair Trade Commission, signalling that the EU is pursuing a multi-jurisdictional approach to digital enforcement.
Schwab, a German MEP and long-time advocate of robust digital regulation, had argued that closer EU-UK cooperation on digital markets is essential given the cross-border nature of gatekeeper challenges. His question pointed to the DMA's global influence, with several third countries adopting similar ex ante rules.
The answer contains no concrete proposals for new structures or deadlines, instead reaffirming the Commission's commitment to the "full, faithful and timely implementation" of the TCA. It signals that the Commission prefers to deepen existing dialogues rather than pursue legal amendments, a stance that may disappoint those seeking a more formalised EU-UK digital regulatory alliance.
For large digital platforms designated as gatekeepers, the decision means continued parallel enforcement by the EU and UK, potentially increasing compliance complexity. For UK and EU businesses, existing cooperation may reduce regulatory divergence but does not guarantee alignment. For national competition authorities, the status quo preserves their role in enforcement. For consumers, the lack of formal cooperation could slow convergence in digital market protections across the two jurisdictions.