Commission Targets Early 2026 for DFA - Takeaways from EPP Hearing

On January 15, 2025, the EPP Group organised a hearing on the protection of minors online, hosted by MEP Dóra Dávid. One of the panels focused on the Digital Fairness Act (DFA) and featured statements by Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou from the Commission’s DG JUST. Kanellopoulou echoed Commissioner McGrath’s recent non-committal remarks regarding when a fully-fledged proposal would be ready. She noted that “the DFA will not be presented before 2026,” which should give the Commission sufficient time to launch its 12-week public consultation in the spring and conduct a thorough impact assessment. According to Mlex, the proposal is likely to appear in early 2026.

The Commission is also expected to launch “a new wide inquiry on the broader impacts of social media on well-being,” the findings of which may shape its approach to the DFA.

The Commission wants to emphasize that it is being cautious about adding new compliance burdens, seeking to limit additional reporting requirements for businesses. However, industry representatives and some MEPs—including Dóra Dávid and Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz—have urged the Commission to prioritise enforcing existing legislation such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) rather than introducing new measures like the DFA. Business representatives have pushed this viewpoint since the Consumer Policy Advisory Group’s (CPAG) plenary meeting in November. In concluding the panel, Kanellopoulou issued a sharp response: “Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s not just a question of enforcement. […] It’s also a matter of lack of legal clarity. And there we really need to intervene. We need more concrete laws.”

Kim van Sparrentak: Shadow Rapporteur on the DFA

A source has revealed that Kim van Sparrentak will serve as the Green group’s shadow rapporteur for the DFA. She was previously the rapporteur for the 2023 European Parliament resolution on the Addictive Design of Online Services. Van Sparrentak is expected to push for strict rules on addictive design for all ages and may advocate a ban on practices like endless scrolling and autoplay. She raised these issues with Commissioner McGrath during his confirmation hearing in November 2024.

Consumer Policy Advisory Group Plenary Meeting

We have obtained minutes from the Commission’s CPAG plenary meeting on November 28, 2024, which confirm the Commission’s plan to hold a public consultation by Q2 2025 at the latest for the Consumer Agenda 2025–2030. The objective is to finalise the Consumer Agenda 2025–2030 in Q4.

Although the DFA was also discussed, new details were minimal. Notably, the next European Consumer Summit is scheduled for May 20, 2025, and the next CPAG meeting for April 3.

Consumer Leadership Academy on the Digital Fairness Act

Applications are now open for the 6th edition of the Consumer Leadership Academy, taking place in Warsaw from May 7 to 9, 2025, with a focus on the DFA. This annual free program is run by the Consumer Empowerment Project, managed by Euroconsumers and Google.

Upcoming Events

• The European Lotteries will host an event on the DFA on February 5, 2025, at the European Parliament.

• Taylor Wessing will hold an online webinar on the new powers of the UK’s CMA and the DFA on February 5.

• Lanzcape will host an online webinar on engaging with the DFA on February 12.

DFA Timeline

• Spring 2025: Public Consultation on the DFA

• Q2 2025: Consultation for the 2025–2030 Consumer Agenda

• 03/04/2025: CPAG Meeting

• 20/05/2025: European Consumer Summit

• Q4 2025: Adoption of the 2025–2030 Consumer Agenda

• First half of 2026: Commission publishes DFA proposal