The Digital Economy Chamber has issued proposals to the Polish Presidency of the EU Council regarding e-commerce. The e-Chamber’s proposals were presented at a meeting with Deputy Minister Ignacy Niemczycki of the Ministry of Development and Technology.
The Digital Economy Chamber has represented the interests of e-commerce industry for over 11 years on the national and European stage. E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing industries in Poland, and native entrepreneurs have been succeeding in the EU market for years. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the e-Chamber sees enormous opportunities for the e-commerce sector during Poland’s presidency in the EU Council. It emphasized the need for reforming the regulatory approach to level the legal and competitive playing field for Polish and Asian e-entrepreneurs. The Digital Economy Chamber has long been running the “Equal Start” campaign, aiming to give equal opportunities to non-European Union e-entrepreneurs, based on respect for EU fundamental values and increased transparency and certainty of the legal environment. A key demand of this campaign is to abolish the customs de minimis threshold (150 euros), which will be a significant step in leveling the legal and competitive framework at the EU level.
Opportunity for Dialogue
The approaching second Polish presidency of the EU Council will be special. It is the first full presidency in the new European Parliament term. The Digital Economy Chamber sees it as an opportunity to start discussing fundamental issues.
“The new Polish presidency in the EU Council coincides with a period when the first opinions on key legal acts for the digital economy, such as DMA and DSA, will be known in the European Commission and member states,” emphasizes Patrycja Sass-Staniszewska, President of the e-Chamber, adding, “We hope that the Polish presidency in the EU will allow us to engage more in the process of creating key regulations for the e-commerce sector and more importantly, their enforcement system for non-EU entities operating in Europe.”
Equal Legal Framework based on EU Values
The European Union has long promoted values centered on equality, freedom of speech, health protection, consumer safety, privacy protection, data protection, and the right to informational autonomy. These unique values on a global scale reflect in the policies of the European e-commerce sector. However, EU e-entrepreneurs still struggle with unbalanced competition, especially from Chinese companies.
Need for Regulations at the EU Level
For years, the Digital Economy Chamber has been advocating for uniform legal standards for entrepreneurs outside the European Union. It also recognizes the need to protect fundamental EU values. Alongside, it calls for actions to ensure transparency in law, while leveling the legal and competition frameworks.
Proposals for a Better Tomorrow
The Digital Economy Chamber has also set paths for the Polish presidency in the EU Council that could lead to a level-playing field for all e-commerce players. Some of the proposals include:
a. Review of EU regulations relevant to e-commerce, focusing on their applicability to non-EU entities who address their goods, services, or digital content to the EU market;
b. Introduction of control mechanisms adapted to the “direct to consumer” business model, aimed at effectively implementing EU regulations protecting, among others, consumer safety;
c. Continuous and accurate monitoring of the availability of public aid in non-EU countries, and responding effectively to balance competitive opportunities.
The Chamber’s proposals for the Polish presidency in the EU Council represent another step towards unifying the e-commerce market in terms of equal legal and competitive frameworks for European and Asian e-entrepreneurs, the subject of the “Equal Start” campaign. It also echo the voice of the market expressing its needs, which may become more audible during Poland’s tenure in the EU. The Chamber’s proposals were sent to the Ministry of Development and Technology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, and the Personal Data Protection Office. The e-Chamber remains open to dialogue with public administration, together building a strong Polish and EU digital economy.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/izba-gospodarki-elektronicznej-przedstawila-postulaty-dla-polskiej-prezydencji-w-radzie-ue-dotyczace-e-handlu-i-wyrownania-zasad-konkurencji-56151
