“He kisses her ring over and over.” The EU, harshly criticized for giving in to US pressure in a key area
MEPs slammed the European Commission on Wednesday for its plans to start a “dialogue” with Washington on technology regulation, warning that such a step risks opening a “back door” for the Trump administration in key EU digital legislation, writes Politico.
“(Donald) Trump's approval rating is at an all-time low and his war against Iran is destroying the global economy. But instead of creating a sovereign path forward for Europe, (Commission President Ursula) von der Leyen is kissing his ring again and again,” Greens MP Alexandra Geese told the Brussels publication.
Allowing US officials to participate in discussions on the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), the MEP added, would allow “platforms … to write their own homework” – which would amount to a “fatal decision for our companies and our democracy”.
The criticism comes after the European Commission announced on Wednesday that it was exploring a new EU-US “dialogue” on online rules, amid growing pressure from Washington over how Brussels enforces its laws on US tech giants.
“We are talking with the US to establish a dialogue to strengthen our cooperation in digital technologies and markets,” Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said, insisting the bloc's regulation was “non-negotiable”.
“Total Surrender”
But critics say the proposed dialogue contradicts that claim and risks turning EU technology law enforcement into a bargaining chip in broader trade talks with Washington.
“The European Commission must clarify immediately if this is really happening. If confirmed, this is nothing but a total capitulation to the coercive tactics of the Trump administration,” said another Green MEP, Sergey Lagodinsky, calling for the suspension of EU-US trade negotiations and the activation of the EU bloc's anti-coercion tool.
Others warn that the negotiations could weaken enforcement of the landmark legislation, designed to limit the power of big tech companies.
“There is no need to do this,” said liberal MEP Sandro Gozi. “The Commission must implement the DSA and DMA, not discuss them with the US. It is a clear attempt to slow down implementation and weaken enforcement,” he said.
In Berlin, lawmakers also expressed concern. Hansjörg Durz, chairman of Germany's Digital Affairs Commission, warned that any compromise would be “extremely problematic” and risk undermining confidence in the enforcement of EU law.
Greens MP Rebecca Lenhard said the bloc's digital rules “must not become a bargaining chip” in a tariff conflict with Washington.
The controversy comes amid increasing pressure from US officials on Brussels, with senior figures calling for changes to EU technology rules. The proposed dialogue — which could involve the United States participating in enforcement discussions — would mark a significant shift from the Commission's long-standing position that its set of online rules is non-negotiable.
