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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2026)0016 – C100114/2026 – 2026/0013(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on digital networks, amending Regulation (EU) 2015/2120, Directive 2002/58/EC and Decision No 676/2002/EC and repealing Regulation (EU) 2018/1971, Directive (EU) 2018/1972 and Decision No 243/2012/EU (Digital Networks Act)

IMCO-PA-789906

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Stéphanie YonCourtin

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 31 Oct 2026

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The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection's draft opinion welcomes the proposed Digital Networks Act and proposes amendments to it. It seeks legal certainty, simpler procedures, harmonised rules and stronger consumer protection. It safeguards open internet access, net neutrality and universal service, and reinstates mandatory comparison tools for consumers. It makes conciliation between providers mandatory, with binding measures where needed. It makes the Member State where services are provided responsible for penalties, designates national single contact points, and replaces some implementing acts with delegated acts. Amendments add 'broadband' to universal service, require BEREC guidelines and reports, extend consumer rights to small and medium-sized enterprises, and set deadlines for notification and switching.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes amendments to the Digital Networks Act to improve legal certainty, simplify procedures, safeguard open internet and universal service, strengthen consumer protection and make conciliation mandatory. The committee submits these amendments to the committee responsible.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur welcomes the Digital Networks Act and seeks a well-functioning Digital Single Market with a high level of consumer protection.
  2. Amendments aim to improve legal certainty, clarify scope, avoid duplication of obligations and simplify administrative procedures and reporting requirements.
  3. The rapporteur considers it essential to safeguard open internet access, net neutrality and the universal service obligation.
  4. The Member State where electronic communications networks or services are provided should have the power to impose penalties for breaches of general authorisation conditions.
  5. National regulatory authorities or other national competent authorities are designated as national single contact points, and national competent authorities must cooperate and assist each other.
  6. The rapporteur supports harmonisation across the Union where justified, to remove barriers to cross-border activity and ensure equal conditions for operators.
  7. Consumers should have access free of charge to at least one independent comparison tool for internet access and number-based interpersonal communications services.
  8. The single European emergency number '112' should be accessible and free of charge, usable for any type of emergency, including cyberbullying or digital violence.
  9. Conciliation between providers becomes mandatory, and the national regulatory authority may impose binding measures to resolve a dispute if no agreement is reached.
  10. The rapporteur proposes using delegated acts instead of implementing acts where appropriate, to ensure parliamentary scrutiny.
  11. Universal service should cover adequate broadband internet access and voice communications at a fixed location, with affordability measures for low-income or special-needs consumers.
  12. Consumers may terminate a contract within three months after notification of changed conditions, and switching should not cause loss of service exceeding one working day.

Who is affected

  • Providers of electronic communications networks and services: face notification deadlines, mandatory conciliation and penalties for breaches.
  • Consumers: gain comparison tools, affordability measures, contract termination rights and emergency access.
  • Microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and not-for-profit organisations: gain consumer-type rights unless they waive them.
  • National regulatory authorities and other competent authorities: designated as single contact points and responsible for enforcement and cooperation.
  • BEREC: tasked with guidelines, opinions and reports on various topics.

Figures and deadlines

  • Notification must be transmitted to the ODN at the latest within 3 working days.
  • BEREC guidelines on general authorisation conditions by 6 months after entry into force.
  • BEREC guidelines on adequate broadband internet access by 12 months after entry into force.
  • National regulatory authorities monitor retail prices every two years.
  • BEREC guidelines on tariff options for low-income consumers by 12 months after entry into force.
  • Commission review of universal service obligations by 30 June 2034.
  • BEREC opinion on optimised services by 6 months after entry into force; guidelines by 12 months.
  • Loss of service during switching shall not exceed one working day.