How to watch the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)

Digitalisation of professional qualifications recognition: proposal and initial scrutiny

Anna Cavazzini and 3 others

The Chair introduces the Fair Mobility Package proposal to digitalise recognition of professional qualifications via a single EU channel, with the Commission outlining scope, deadlines and links to other mobility instruments, followed by MEP questions on whether problems stem from implementation, structural barriers or education incompatibilities and Commission replies on the role of digital tools, reinforced administrative cooperation, limits of EU harmonisation and the exclusion of academic recognition from this legal base.

In this chapter

1. Agenda item 18: Commission proposal on digitalising recognition of professional qualificationsAnna Cavazzini
2. Q: Arias Echeverría: implementation problems or digitalisation gap?Anna Cavazzini
3. Q: Grapini and Grossmann: single market barriers and compatible trainingMaria Grapini
4. Commission replies: digital tools, cooperation and harmonisation limitsAnna Cavazzini

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EU islands and outermost regions: structural disadvantages, strategies and impact assessments

Anna Cavazzini and 5 others

The committee turns to the EU strategy for islands and outermost regions, with interventions from Maltese and Azores stakeholders and the Commission on structural insularity costs, transport and connectivity, state aid and cohesion funding, and dedicated strategies under Articles 174 and 349 TFEU, followed by MEPs’ questions on a systemic ‘insularity test’, fund access, sectoral burdens and sargassum, and closing remarks stressing proportional legislation and diversified island economies.

In this chapter

1. Transition to islands agenda: Malta Minister on insularityAnna Cavazzini
2. Azores perspective: transport constraints in outermost regionsAnna Cavazzini
3. Maltese manufacturing and consumer costs: impact of transportAnna Cavazzini

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Standardisation regulation revision: Commission mandate and Q&A

Anna Cavazzini and 1 other

The meeting opens with the Commission’s presentation of the revision of the standardisation regulation, detailing the evaluation findings, main reform pillars (flexibility, inclusiveness, international role, free readability), and specific new tools, followed by targeted questions from the Chair and MEPs on the ‘international-first’ approach, legal certainty, digital-market relevance of standards, and the impact of free access rules on ESOs’ business models.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting: standardisation regulation contextAnna Cavazzini
2. Evaluation of current system: shortcomings and loss of leadership
3. Scope of proposal and main reform pillars

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Unsafe and illegal products in e‑commerce: customs, enforcement challenges and MEP questions

Anna Cavazzini and 6 others

The committee holds an exchange of views with Belgian and Polish customs on controlling unsafe and illegal products in high‑volume e‑commerce flows, covering cooperation with market surveillance, data and IT gaps, new Union Customs Code provisions, handling‑fee impacts, key routes and enforcement results, before MEPs probe legislative alignment, funding, information‑sharing, platform liability and warehouse hubs. Belgian and Polish officials respond on legislative concepts, platform compliance, market surveillance capacity, laboratory use and treatment of new logistics hubs and fee revenues, after which the Chair closes the item and moves to coordinators.

In this chapter

1. Belgian customs: e‑commerce scale and market surveillance interface
2. Belgian customs: cross‑border consignments and enforcement burden
3. Belgian customs: national coordination and joint control campaigns

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EU Kids Act: Commission proposal and parliamentary scrutiny

Anna Cavazzini and 12 others

Following an introduction linking Eurobarometer findings to the new initiative, the Commission presents the EU Kids Act’s legal basis, scope, age‑tiered access model, safety‑by‑design obligations, age‑verification architecture and enforcement, after which MEPs from all groups raise concerns on competence, age limits, addictive design, AI chatbots, parental responsibility, civil liberties and interaction with the Digital Fairness Act. The Commission then clarifies how the Kids Act fits within the DSA and AVMSD framework, its links to the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, the parental consent and zero‑knowledge token model, specific safeguards for children’s AI use and the EU age‑assurance approach, before the Chair closes the item.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to agenda item 13: EU Kids Act presentationAnna Cavazzini
2. Commission (Viola): context and risks motivating the EU Kids Act
3. Commission: legal foundations, evidence base and need for EU‑wide rules

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Voting block: digital omnibus, medical devices and cybersecurity opinions

Anna Cavazzini and 2 others

The Chair opens the voting session on several legislative opinions, with the rapporteur presenting IMCO’s stance on the digital omnibus on data before the committee adopts that opinion, followed by votes on medical devices and in vitro diagnostics, simplification and alignment with the Cybersecurity Act 2, and the Cybersecurity Act 2 opinion itself. The segment consists of concise procedural explanations, rapporteur remarks and roll‑call results for each file.

In this chapter

1. Opening of IMCO meeting and agenda item 9Anna Cavazzini
2. Rapporteur Saliba: key elements of digital omnibus opinionAlex Agius Saliba
3. Voting on IMCO opinion: digital omnibus on dataAnna Cavazzini

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Opening, agenda and Eurobarometer on youth online risks

Anna Cavazzini and 3 others

IMCO opens, adjusts its agenda and hears a detailed Eurobarometer presentation on adolescents’ screen time, exposure to online harms and public support for EU rules, followed by MEP questions on addiction, parental roles and education and Commission replies on the limits and policy relevance of the data. The segment closes with suspension of the meeting ahead of the voting session.

In this chapter

1. Opening of IMCO meeting and agenda changeAnna Cavazzini
2. Eurobarometer survey: scope, method and screen time
3. Social media impacts, harmful content and support for EU rulesAnna Cavazzini

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Digital Fairness Act ‘way forward’: addictive design, legal architecture and political positions

Przemysław Pałka and 5 others

Professor Pałka maps regulatory options for tackling addictive design, harmonisation models and the choice between regulation and directive, while the Commission explains the forthcoming DFA proposal and its coherence with the wider digital acquis. Political groups then set out priorities on scope, legal gaps, enforcement, vulnerable users and alignment with the Kids Act, complemented by expert input on negative-content driven engagement and possible EU versus national regulatory approaches.

In this chapter

1. Professor Pałka: defining addictive design and positioning DFA in EU frameworkPrzemysław Pałka
2. Professor Pałka: regulatory models, aims and choice of regulation vs directivePrzemysław Pałka
3. Professor Pałka: maximum vs minimum harmonisation and room for national experimentationPrzemysław Pałka

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Digital Fairness Act workshop: consumer benchmarks, dark patterns and personalization

Maria Grapini and 5 others

Invited academics analyse whether the ‘average’ and ‘vulnerable’ consumer benchmarks fit data‑driven digital markets and propose ways to regulate dark patterns, influencer marketing, personalised pricing and marketing, and enforcement burdens. MEPs question blacklist design, future‑proofing, coverage of all consumers and children, and the limits of bans versus principles, leading experts to argue for updated concepts of digital vulnerability and more concrete, enforceable rules.

In this chapter

1. Expert briefing: consumer benchmarks for Digital Fairness Act
2. Academic briefing: average consumer benchmark
3. Case-law flexibility: context-sensitive consumer protection

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SME Test in EU Better Regulation: study, Commission response and MEP concerns

Maria Grapini and 1 other

An external study details methodological and implementation weaknesses of the SME Test in impact assessments, followed by the Commission’s defence of its tools and simplification agenda and a political exchange over Think Small First, cumulative burdens, late payments and the Packaging Regulation. The segment clarifies institutional responsibilities, evidentiary gaps and proposed reforms to keep SME interests central throughout the legislative cycle.

In this chapter

1. SME Test study: background, scope and methodology
2. SME Test study: quantitative findings on SME consideration
3. SME Test study: case study insights and systemic weaknesses

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Meeting opening, agenda and DMA enforcement report

Maria Grapini and 1 other

The Chair opens the IMCO meeting, sets the agenda and procedural context, then hears the DMA Working Group’s update on EU–US digital competition enforcement before transitioning to the SME Test study item. This block frames upcoming work on the Chips Act, multimodal booking, DMA implementation and SME policy focus for the session.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and agenda, voting and deadlinesMaria Grapini
2. DMA Working Group Chair: report on EU–US digital competition enforcementAndreas Schwab
3. Transition to SME Test study and speaking orderMaria Grapini

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EPA Panel 2: marketplaces, standardization, industry positions, customs reform and Q&A

Margherita Cossaro and 5 others

Ecommerce Europe, CEN‑CENELEC, Back Market and Orgalim present views on keeping rules enforceable yet proportionate for platforms and refurbishers, preserving the NLF and ESO‑centred standardization while improving speed and access, and avoiding new burdens that would hinder circular models. MEPs then press on marketplace liability, standards timelines and access, and the Commission (DG TAXUD) is scrutinised on the new small‑parcel customs duty and handling fee, with discussion on their impact on third‑country parcel flows, EU warehousing, consumer costs and revenue allocation.

In this chapter

1. Panel 2 opening: Ecommerce Europe and standardization community viewsMargherita Cossaro
2. Refurbishment marketplaces and industry: EPA impacts and needsAnna Cavazzini
3. MEP Q&A with Panel 2: Marketplace liability and standardization speedLaura Ballarín Cereza
4. Scrutiny session: Implementation of customs reform and small-parcel feesAnna Cavazzini

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EPA Panel 1: national enforcement, consumer protection, circular operators and Q&A

Anna Cavazzini and 3 others

National authorities (Hungary), consumer groups (BEUC) and reuse/refurbishment actors (RREUSE) set out enforcement gaps in mass e‑commerce, expectations for the EPA on accountable EU operators and marketplace co‑responsibility, and the need for proportionate, harmonised rules for second‑hand and circular business models. MEPs then question the panel on market surveillance organisation, ultra‑fast fashion, online marketplace liability and impacts on the social economy, prompting detailed replies on digital-by-default tools, EU‑level coordination, sanctions and information access for refurbishers.

In this chapter

1. Hungary: National market surveillance challenges and EPA expectationsAnna Cavazzini
2. BEUC: Consumer priorities for the European Product ActAnna Cavazzini
3. RREUSE: Circular business models and second-hand productsAnna Cavazzini
4. MEP Q&A with Panel 1: Market surveillance, marketplaces and refurbishersDirk Gotink

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European Product Act hearing: introduction and Commission perspective

Anna Cavazzini Verts/ALE

The Chair formally launches the public hearing on the European Product Act and outlines IMCO’s focus on e‑commerce enforcement, product safety and circularity. The Commission (DG GROW) then presents the standardization reform proposal and the conceptual foundations of the EPA, stressing faster and more inclusive standardization and modernised product‑lifecycle and enforcement tools for the internal market.

In this chapter

1. Launch of hearing on the European Product ActAnna Cavazzini
2. Commission (DG GROW): Standardization reform and EPA conceptAnna Cavazzini

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Meeting opening, Seoul mission and AI Act enforcement

Anna Cavazzini Verts/ALE

The Chair opens the IMCO meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, then reports on the delegation visit to Seoul focused on CBAM, AI and platform regulation, and presents the joint AI working group update on the AI Office’s new enforcement powers, liability gaps and upcoming work on AI marketing and labelling codes. This block frames IMCO’s strategic priorities on AI and digital regulation ahead of the European Product Act hearing.

In this chapter

1. Opening of IMCO meeting, agenda and minutesAnna Cavazzini
2. Report: IMCO delegation to Seoul, South KoreaAnna Cavazzini
3. Report: AI Act working group on enforcementAnna Cavazzini

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Cybersecurity package: CSA2 opinion and NIS2 alignment

Christian Doleschal and 3 others

The rapporteur and shadows outline IMCO’s draft opinion on the Cybersecurity Act 2, focusing on certification schemes, ENISA’s role, cloud sovereignty and SME-friendly obligations, and then present targeted NIS2 amendments to streamline reporting and align with CSA2, which the Commission supports as harmonising implementation while keeping a high cybersecurity level.

In this chapter

1. Cybersecurity Act 2 opinion: rapporteur’s priorities and EPP/ECR positionsChristian Doleschal
2. NIS2 alignment and simplification package for cybersecurity reportingChristian Doleschal

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Affordable Housing Act: proposal, subsidiarity and local powers

Christian Doleschal and 9 others

The Commission presents the Affordable Housing Act package on housing stress indicators and regulating short-term rentals and vacant properties, with MEPs challenging EU competence, impacts on local regulation, interaction with Green Deal and building rules, and proportionality tests, followed by the Commission’s clarification that it codifies existing case law, preserves national measures and links to a broader simplification review and funding flexibility.

In this chapter

1. Commission: Affordable Housing Act and EU framework on housing stress
2. MEPs’ questions on housing competence, Green Deal rules and local powersChristian Doleschal
3. Left and EPP perspectives: market failures, necessity test and EU supportKatrin Langensiepen
4. Commission: defence of Affordable Housing Act and link to simplification packageChristian Doleschal

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Public Procurement Act: MEP concerns and Commission replies

Tomislav Sokol and 10 others

MEPs from several groups scrutinise the Public Procurement Act on EU preference, social and green criteria, subcontracting, thresholds, SME impacts and local authority burdens, while the Commission defends its horizontal approach, mandatory quality-based awards, GPA-linked thresholds, SME facilitation and anti-corruption benefits.

In this chapter

1. MEPs’ first reactions: EU preference, social and green criteria, thresholdsTomislav Sokol
2. Further MEP concerns: labor standards, local control, and engineering servicesPierre Jouvet
3. Commission: replies on Public Procurement Act (EU preference, SMEs, anti-corruption)Christian Doleschal

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Meeting opening and shift to Public Procurement Act

Christian Doleschal PPE

Chair Doleschal handles agenda, procedural announcements and previous decisions before introducing the Commission’s proposal for a new, streamlined Public Procurement Act as the first substantive item.

In this chapter

1. Opening of IMCO meeting and chair’s announcementsChristian Doleschal
2. Commission: presentation of Public Procurement Act proposalChristian Doleschal

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Anthropic hearing: AI cybersecurity, export controls and EU oversight

Anna Cavazzini and 11 others

Following the voting, the committee holds a structured hearing with Anthropic on AI‑enabled cybersecurity, where the company presents its safety‑focused model strategy, Mythos system and Project Glasswing, and explains the impact of recent US export controls on its models. MEPs then run consecutive Q&A rounds on strategic dependence, model safeguards, dual‑use risks, EU sovereignty, data localisation, access conditions for EU actors and forthcoming enforcement under the EU AI Act, complemented by the Commission’s outline of an EU AI–cyber action plan and AI Office powers.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to Anthropic hearing: context and company statementAnna Cavazzini
2. First Q&A round with Anthropic: export controls, dependence and safeguardsAnna Cavazzini
3. AI governance, cybersecurity collaboration and EU enforcementPablo Arias Echeverría

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Committee voting: Single Market, customs and budget

Anna Cavazzini and 3 others

The committee chair conducts the formal voting session on corrigenda, the Single Market and Customs Programme opinion, temporary suspensions of certain EPR rules, the 2025 EU general budget opinion, IMCO’s own budgetary amendments and Omnibus IV digitalisation changes, closing the legislative and budgetary voting block. This segment captures positions, vote outcomes and procedural steps relevant to Single Market, customs and EU budget files.

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Single market barriers: follow‑up on the ‘Terrible Ten’

Anna Cavazzini and 4 others

IMCO reviews the Commission’s implementation of its single market strategy focusing on the ‘Terrible Ten’ horizontal barriers, with DG GROW’s barrier‑removal unit explaining the SMET‑led method: breaking the ten into 28 concrete problems, agreeing focused actions and indicators with Member States, and pushing changes in national administrative practices. In Q&A, MEPs press on progress against territorial supply constraints and geoblocking, the recognition of professional qualifications, and Member State implementation gaps; the Commission signals that territorial supply constraints will require an EU‑level legislative initiative, that work on regulated professions combines new employment legislation with targeted pressure on over‑regulation, and notes that compared with the US, the EU single market is structurally strong but more self‑critical, which drives continuous barrier‑removal efforts.

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Hearing: illegal and dangerous products and market surveillance capacity

Anna Cavazzini and 2 others

The committee holds an exchange of views with Italian and German market surveillance authorities and DG GROW on combating illegal and dangerous products entering the single market, especially via e‑commerce and small parcels from third countries. Italy details online surveillance challenges, lack of interoperable IT systems (ICSMS, Safety Gate, customs), low awareness among operators and consumers, and participation in joint actions and sweeps, while Germany illustrates extremely low control densities at customs and in online trade, data‑access gaps, and the need to move from product‑by‑product checks to a systemic, data‑driven approach targeting illegal business models; the Commission outlines ongoing and planned interoperability, AI‑based detection tools, stronger rules on authorized representatives and an underperformance review under the forthcoming European Product Act, amid MEP questions on consumer guidance and possible links to the Digital Fairness Act.

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Extended producer responsibility: authorized representative suspension

Anna Cavazzini and 1 other

IMCO turns to the opinion on suspending authorized representative rules for producer responsibility under the Batteries Regulation and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, as part of the simplification omnibus. Standing in for the absent rapporteur, Pál Szekeres presents compromises limiting a temporary (up to 1 July 2029 or until the Circular Economy Act applies) suspension of AR obligations to micro and small enterprises, as a political signal while preserving long‑term legislative ambition; DG ENV explains the intention to ease administrative burden only for EU producers, maintain obligations for third‑country producers, link the suspension closely to the future Circular Economy Act, and warns that size‑based exemptions risk fragmentation and extra oversight complexity for national authorities.

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