The European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee held a structured dialogue with Commissioner Michael McGrath on 7 May 2026, revealing diverging views on the scope of the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA). Christel Schaldemose (S&D) pushed for tough measures including bans on loot boxes and age limits for minors, while Leila Chaibi (The Left) argued protections should also extend to adults. Adina Vălean (EPP) cautioned that restricting autoplay and personalised advertising could harm media discoverability. McGrath declined to pre-announce specific bans but noted options ranging from bans for children to transparency requirements.
Enforcement and product safety
On enforcement, Gheorghe Piperea (ECR) urged stronger tools against AI-generated misleading advertisements, while Dirk Gotink (EPP) warned against creating excessive complexity. Product safety from third-country platforms emerged as a cross-party concern, with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Renew) citing a dangerous product from Temu. McGrath tied this to ongoing Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) actions against Temu and Shein.
Energy crisis and consumer protection
On the energy crisis, Laurens Rutten (BEUC) called for lower electricity taxes and better comparison tools, while Agata Zalewska (BusinessEurope) backed temporary targeted relief for firms. Pierre Schellekens (DG ENER) stressed the importance of the energy transition, grid investments, and a technology-neutral 2040 framework including nuclear. Pablo Arias Echeverría (EPP) linked the energy mix to strategic autonomy following the Iberian blackout.
Broader agenda and next steps
The Switzerland package and European business wallets saw broad support for interoperability and legal certainty. Key upcoming files include the DFA and the CPC Regulation revision, with a Switzerland vote scheduled for 2 June. Affected stakeholders include consumers, businesses (especially SMEs), e-commerce platforms, energy-intensive industries, and vulnerable groups.