Sant jappella għal dibattitu miftuħ dwar il-possibbiltà u l-fattibilità li jitkissru monopolji diġitali

Waqt dibattitu plenarju fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu dwar il-liġi Ewropea l-ġdida li tirregola s-swieq diġitali, Alfred Sant enfasizza li s-sitwazzjoni preżenti fejn ftit kumpaniji jikkontrollaw l-akbar sehem tas-suq online hija perikoluża u inaċċettabbli. Filwaqt li enfasizza li l-pjattaformi diġitali għandhom joperaw f’ambjent ta’ kundizzjonijiet ekwi, appella għal dibattitu miftuħ dwar il-possibbiltà u l-fattibilità li jitkissru monopolji diġitali.

L-għan ewlieni tal-Att dwar is-Swieq Diġitali (DMA) huwa li jiġi żgurat li l-kumpaniji diġitali kollha irrispettivament mid-daqs tagħhom kif ukoll il-konsumaturi tas-servizzi tagħhom jiġu ttrattati b’mod ġust u trasparenti.

Sant esprima appoġġ għall-ewwel qari tal-Parlament dwar l-Att dwar is-Swieq Diġitali u enfasizza li l-azzjonijiet proposti jindikaw id-direzzjoni t-tajba biex jiġi żgurat suq diġitali tal-Unjoni Ewropea aktar ġust u miftuħ. Minkejja dan hu wissa rigward is-sitwazzjoni attwali li biha numru żgħir ta’ kumpaniji jiddominaw is-suq online u enfasizza li dan huwa perikoluż u inaċċettabbli.

“Ġejna mġiegħla nemmnu li minn bosta aspetti, l-ekonomija tagħna qed taħsad il-frott ta’ suq diġitali li jiffjorixxi fi ħdan sistema ta’ suq miftuħ. Madanakollu, in-negozji ż-żgħar kif ukoll il-konsumaturi jsibu ruħhom maqbuda f’xenarju kważi monopoliku”, wissa Sant.

Żied jgħid li ħafna drabi jkun hemm persuna waħda jew tnejn li għandha s-setgħa tiddeċiedi min jieħu riżorsi u opportunitajiet partikolari u min le, dawn jikkontrollaw kollox billi jiddettaw min jidħol u joħroġ mis-suq, u x’inhu offrut f’dan l-istess suq.

“Għalhekk, nappoġġja l-mixja lejn il-ftuħ tas-suq permezz tal-interoperabbiltà (interoperability) kif ukoll il-miżuri kollha maħsuba biex jiżguraw kundizzjonijiet ekwi, li jżomm f’kontroll lil dawk l-atturi li jikkontrollaw l-aspett kompetittiv tas-suq diġitali fl-Unjoni Ewropea”, Sant. qal.

L-ewwel qari tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar l-Att dwar is-Swieq Diġitali ġie adottat b’642 vot favur, 8 kontra u 46 astensjoni.

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Sant calls for open debate on the possibility and feasibility of breaking up digital monopolies

During a plenary debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the new European law regulating digital markets, Alfred Sant emphasized that the present situation whereby a few companies control the lion’s share of the online market is dangerous and unacceptable. While highlighting that digital platforms should operate in a level playing field environment, he called for an open debate on the possibility and feasibility of breaking up digital monopolies.

The main thrust of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is to ensure that all digital companies regardless of their size as well as consumers of their services are treated in a fair and transparent manner. 

Sant expressed support for the Parliament’s first reading on the Digital Markets Act underlining that the proposed actions point in the right direction to ensure a fairer and a more open European Union digital market. That said he raised the alarm with regards to the current situation by which a small number of companies dominate the online market and emphasized that this is dangerous and unacceptable.

“We have been led to believe that from many aspects, our economy is reaping the fruit of a digital market that thrives within an open market system. Yet, small businesses and consumers alike find themselves trapped inside a quasi-monopolistic scenario”, Sant warned.

He added that most of the time there are one or two gatekeepers who control everything by dictating who enters and exits the market, and what is on offer on this same market.

“Therefore, I support the move towards the opening of the market through interoperability as well as all measures intended to ensure a level playing field, which keeps in check those actors that control the competitive aspect of the digital market in the European Union”, Sant said.

The European Parliament’s first reading on the Digital Markets Act was adopted with 642 votes in favour, 8 against and 46 abstentions.