Government to name FCCA the national contact point for EU Digital Markets Act matters

The Government proposes to designate the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) as the centralised national contact point in matters related to the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The FCCA would also assist the European Commission in inspections, for example.

The new tasks would be put into effect by adding a chapter containing three new sections to the Act on the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (hereinafter, the Act). The amendments to the Act are intended to enter into force as soon as possible.

The amendments will complement the provisions of the EU Digital Markets Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council) at national level. The provisions of the Digital Markets Act are applied as such in the Member States. The amendments to the Act will ensure that the powers of the national authority are clear and sufficient.

As the national contact point, the FCCA would, notwithstanding secrecy provisions, have the right to receive information referred to in the articles of the Digital Markets Act from other national authorities and forward it to the Commission.

In addition, provisions on the role of the FCCA as an authority assisting the Commission would be added to the Act. These tasks include inspections, market investigations and requesting the Commission to open a market investigation based on the Digital Markets Act.

Digital Markets Act ensures that large online platforms play fair

The current EU Digital Markets Act aims to keep the digital market competitive. It imposes obligations on the largest online platform companies that serve as so-called gatekeepers in the EU internal market. Moreover, these companies are prohibited from pursuing certain unfair practices leading to market concentration. This ensures that the digital market is not concentrated solely in the hands of the largest platform companies.

The European Commission is responsible for enforcing the Digital Markets Act. Authorities in the Member States, such as the FCCA, assist the Commission in its enforcement activities.

Inquiries:

Virve Haapajärvi, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 047 027
Iiro Ihanamäki, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 047 217