Strasbourg, 19/01/2022 – The Pirates in the European Parliament are concerned that presidential elections can harm the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. Regulation of digital platforms or establishment of carbon pricing are examples of key legislations which could be harmed by too rapid adoption.
MEP Marcel Kolaja, shadow rapporteur of the Digital Markets Act in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), comments:
“I am pleased that regulation of digital platforms are priorities for the French Presidency. However, we must be careful about not adopting the Digital Services Act (DSA) too quickly at the expense of quality. We need to make sure that the new rules for removing illegal content online will not restrict freedom of expression in any way. Similarly with the Digital Markets Act, my aim in negotiations will be to keep the condition of interoperability. We have to set rules that will improve contestability of digital markets. Therefore, interconnectivity of social networks and communication platforms is necessary.”
MEP Markéta Gregorová, member of the Conference on the Future of Europe plenary and part of the Working Group Digital, comments:
“The French Presidency is marked by the French presidential election. In many ways positively, in many ways negatively – especially in the selection of topics that will not be given attention. Nevertheless, I personally believe that the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe will be prepared by the French objectively, taking into account what EU citizens really want. Let us keep in mind that the Czech Republic, which is taking over the baton after France, will also play a part in this process. Therefore I hope that the new Czech government will not underestimate the debate within this year’s presidential trio. ”
MEP Mikuláš Peksa, member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), comments:
“Establishment of carbon pricing at the EU borders for imported products is a key instrument that will make European producers compete with other countries. In practice, it will mean that a special tariff will be imposed on products from countries where production is severely non-environmental. This will bring back competition. The French Presidency is ambitious to harmonise emission requirements for the internal market and imports from third countries, including Russia and China. It is a matter of economic and ecological efficiency.”
In addition, Pirates will be careful that the new EU policy on migration is not hijacked by the French presidential campaign and that Emmanuel Macron does not go to excessive measures to win votes against the populists.
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