Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – German MEP Anna Cavazzini will be leading the European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) for another term, according to a press release by the EU Parliament.
What is Cavazzini’s track record on environmental matters?
Green MEP Cavazzini has a track record on global and environmental matters. For example, she was rapporteur for the EU Parliament’s recommendation for the EU to exit from the Energy Charter Treaty, a contentious 1998 treaty developed to guard companies in the energy industry. The recommendation she conducted supported member states’ conclusion to withdraw the treaty in March.
What are the IMCO Committee’s responsibilities?
The IMCO committee conducts internal market affairs, including competition, and consumer protection, both of which are favourably relevant to the tech industry.
What did Ursula von der Leyen urge last week?
The re-elected president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, urged for a modification of competition law in the EU in her political preferences last week. A “digital fairness check” anticipated in the coming months will discuss whether EU consumer law is fit for the digital age.
Who are the vice-chairs of the IMCO Committee?
According to a press release by the EU Parliament, the composition of the committee: the first vice-chair is second-time MEP Christian Doleschal (European People’s Party, Germany), followed by first-time MEP Nikola Minchev (Renew, Bulgaria) second vice-chair, third-time MEP Maria Grapini (S&D, Romania) for third vice-chair, and finally another first-time MEP, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz (EPP, Poland), according to the press release. The chair and vice-chairs of the committee were polled “by acclamation”.
Which parties dominate the IMCO Committee?
Overall, the committee is overwhelmed by the EPP and S&D, who have 14 and 11 constituents, respectively. The chairs and vice-chairs have a background in international matters like trade, with little direct connection to digital policy.
Who are the coordinators for the political groups?
Moreover, the coordinators for the additional groups in the committees, are also elected. Coordinators manage the political groups within the committee and perform with the chairs and vice-chairs to plan the committee’s work. For the EPP, the coordinator is Andreas Schwab, who was rapporteur for the Digital Markets Act (DMA). For Renew, the coordinator is Svenja Hahn, who was shadow rapporteur for the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). The Greens coordinator is Kim van Sparrentak, who conducted a parliamentary resolution on addictive design in digital platforms in 2023 and was shadow rapporteur for the AI Act.
Van Sparrentak along with Stephanie Yon-Courtin (Renew, France), have stated they plan to seek regulation on addictive design, especially through the “digital fairness check”. In her preferences, von der Leyen also mentioned efforts to curb social media addiction.
