Overview
This report analyses Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Commission replies published between 19.07.2026 and 26.07.2026, capturing a critical window of EU digital policymaking. The material highlights an intense focus on core regulatory enforcement, spanning the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and emerging frameworks surrounding artificial intelligence and technological sovereignty. Institutionally, the European Commission projects a tone of resolute implementation, balancing the rigorous enforcement of new compliance standards with a parallel narrative of administrative simplification and strategic autonomy. For public affairs and advocacy professionals, these developments underscore a regulatory environment that is moving decisively from legislative design into complex, technical enforcement, where platform accountability, data governance, and cross-border supervision are taking centre stage.
❗ Commission Outlines DMA Data Sharing and Privacy Safeguards
In Parliamentary Question E-002373/2026, concerns were raised regarding privacy safeguards under the Digital Markets Act’s data-sharing obligations. In a response on 22 July 2026, Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera confirmed that the Commission is developing an anonymisation approach for Alphabet in collaboration with privacy experts, aligning with the GDPR. The response indicates that search data will only be shared with eligible search engines under strict contractual and technical measures, subject to continuous monitoring and independent audits to ensure robust user privacy.
❓ MEPs Probe DSA Enforcement on Fraudulent Meta Advertisements
Submitted on 8 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002826/2026 addresses alleged systemic non-compliance by Meta regarding fraudulent advertisements and deepfakes under the Digital Services Act. Lawmakers pressed the Commission on whether it will launch a formal investigation following a formal complaint by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and how it plans to ensure effective redress for victims. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Questions Raised Over Asymmetric Pressures in DSA Codes of Conduct
In Parliamentary Question P-003025/2026, submitted on 16 July 2026, lawmakers challenged the Commission’s stance on the voluntary nature of DSA codes of conduct. The inquiry asks whether the Commission acknowledges an asymmetric dynamic where signing the codes offers regulatory benefits while refusal carries implicit risks, potentially undermining the freedom of participation. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Parliament Seeks Clarity on DSA Supervisory Fees and Staffing
Parliamentary Question E-002873/2026, submitted on 13 July 2026, focuses on the financial and human resources required to enforce the Digital Services Act effectively. The Commission is asked to confirm if it plans to increase annual supervisory fees and whether it is on track to reach its target of 270 full-time equivalent staff dedicated to DSA enforcement by the end of 2026. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Highlights DSA Enforcement Actions on Child Safety
Addressing the grooming and sexual exploitation of minors online, Parliamentary Question E-002037/2026 prompted a response from Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen on 20 July 2026. The Commission detailed its diligent enforcement of the DSA, citing the opening of proceedings against Snapchat and a national investigation into Roblox by the Dutch Digital Services Coordinator, while reaffirming support for the proposed Regulation on combatting child sexual abuse.
❓ Lawmakers Scrutinise Apple App Store Geoblocking Practices
Submitted on 15 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002956/2026 questions the state of play of proceedings initiated against Apple in November 2024 concerning alleged geoblocking by Apple Media Services. Lawmakers asked the Commission to evaluate whether linking App Store access to specific national accounts undermines the digital single market. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Consumer Protection in Videogames Sparks Call for Binding Rules
In Parliamentary Question E-002861/2026, submitted on 10 July 2026, the Commission’s reliance on voluntary industry codes rather than binding requirements in the Digital Fairness Act is questioned in the context of the ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’ European Citizens’ Initiative. The inquiry seeks clarification on whether this sets a precedent for other connected smart devices and highlights a perceived imbalance in copyright enforcement. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Updates to DSA Guidelines on Electoral Disinformation Requested
Parliamentary Question E-002950/2026, submitted on 15 July 2026, raises concerns over hybrid warfare and foreign interference on social media ahead of the 2027 elections. A broad coalition of MEPs asked the Commission to outline its timeline for updating the DSA guidelines on mitigating systemic risks, specifically integrating AI considerations and restricting political profiling. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Meta’s Generative AI Tools Prompt Privacy and Transparency Concerns
Submitted on 13 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002877/2026 addresses Meta’s new generative AI tool, Muse Image, and its use of public profile content. Lawmakers asked the Commission to clarify whether an opt-out mechanism satisfies the legal requirements of the GDPR, the DSA, and the AI Act regarding deepfakes and manipulated content. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Elaborates on Political Advertising Transparency Rules
In Parliamentary Question E-002184/2026, the Commission was asked about the enforcement of transparency standards. In a response on 23 July 2026, Commissioner Michael McGrath highlighted Regulation (EU) 2024/900, noting that sponsors must ensure the accuracy of information provided to advertising services. He confirmed that the Commission actively supports a network of national competent authorities and may revise its guidelines based on lessons learned from recent elections.
❓ MEPs Connect Online Grooming to Missing Children Rates Under the DSA
Parliamentary Question E-002868/2026, submitted on 13 July 2026, highlights reports that runaway children account for a significant portion of missing children cases, often preceded by online bullying or grooming. The Commission is asked how it will utilise the Digital Services Act to improve the early detection of violence and whether it will assess the role of multiplayer game chat features in grooming. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Calls Emerge for an EU Coordination Network Against Online Racism
Submitted on 14 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002922/2026 points to the fragmented national responses to online hate speech and proposes the establishment of an EU coordination network (CNORA). Lawmakers asked the Commission to assess the legal and budgetary conditions for such a mechanism under the DSA and the EU strategy on combating antisemitism. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Trusted Flagger Status Scrutinised Following National Funding Scandals
In Parliamentary Question E-002958/2026, submitted on 15 July 2026, lawmakers question the Commission’s oversight of organisations seeking trusted flagger status under the DSA, specifically referencing the French ‘Marianne Fund’ scandal and the organisation Conspiracy Watch. The inquiry asks whether the Commission plans to publish a list of entities that have lost or unsuccessfully requested this status. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Potential Repercussions of US Court Rulings on Data Privacy Framework
Submitted on 13 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002882/2026 addresses a recent US Supreme Court decision affecting the independence of the Federal Trade Commission. Lawmakers asked the Commission whether this ruling, which potentially compromises the conditions of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, will prompt a renegotiation of the data transfer agreement. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Member State Compliance with Electronic Communications Code Questioned
In Parliamentary Question E-002902/2026, submitted on 14 July 2026, lawmakers highlighted that several Member States have failed to implement advanced caller location and mobile-based public warning systems as required by the European Electronic Communications Code. The Commission is asked whether it will initiate infringement proceedings against non-compliant states. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ State of Play on Europol-Israel Data Exchange Agreement Sought
Parliamentary Question E-002925/2026, submitted on 14 July 2026, requests transparency on the stalled negotiations regarding the exchange of personal data between Europol and Israel. Lawmakers asked the Commission to clarify the status of a controversial territorial derogation and how it ensures that data transfers do not contribute to human rights violations. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Transatlantic Data Protection Standards Compared Amid US TikTok Restructuring
Submitted on 15 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002986/2026 examines the recent establishment of a majority US-owned joint venture by ByteDance to avert a TikTok ban in the United States. The Commission is asked to assess this security solution and whether it implies that the data of US citizens is now better protected than that of EU citizens. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Details Technological Sovereignty Package and Regulatory Fitness
In Parliamentary Question E-001950/2026, the Commission was asked about technological dependencies. Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen’s response on 22 July 2026 framed the Technological Sovereignty Package as a tool to reduce critical dependencies in semiconductors, cloud, and AI. Furthermore, she highlighted the 2025 Omnibus legislative proposals and a forthcoming Digital Fitness Check aimed at cutting EUR 5 billion€5BCited figure in administrative costs by 2029 to spur innovation.
❓ Geopolitical AI Dependencies Spark Concerns Over Access to Top Models
Parliamentary Question E-002963/2026, submitted on 15 July 2026, reacts to US administration orders restricting foreign access to advanced AI models like Anthropic’s Mythos 5. The inquiry asks the Commission if it is prepared to boost indigenous European AI models, prioritise them in public procurement, and enforce data processing within the internal market to mitigate these geopolitical vulnerabilities. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Lawmakers Propose Reciprocity Mechanisms for Critical Digital Technologies
Submitted on 15 July 2026, Parliamentary Question E-002989/2026 addresses Europe’s strategic position in the semiconductor supply chain alongside its reliance on foreign AI and cloud services. The Commission is asked if it is considering an automatic reciprocity mechanism that would suspend European export licences for critical semiconductor technologies if third countries restrict EU access to key digital assets. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Commission Prepares Quality Jobs Act to Address AI in the Workplace
In Parliamentary Question E-002231/2026 regarding the labour market impacts of AI, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu responded on 23 July 2026. She indicated that while the aggregate number of jobs may not fall, task natures will evolve. The response positions the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act, proposed for late 2026, as a key instrument to address algorithmic management and AI at work, following ongoing social partner consultations.
❗ Commission Defends Market Integration Package and ESMA’s Supervisory Role
Parliamentary Question P-002213/2026 scrutinised the centralisation of capital market supervision. In a response on 23 July 2026, Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque clarified that the market integration and supervision package does not seek centralisation for its own sake. She frames the direct supervision of critical infrastructures and crypto asset providers by ESMA as a proportionate measure to remove cross-border barriers while leaving asset management supervision at the national level.
❗ Commission Outlines AI and Drone Capabilities for Maritime Surveillance
In Parliamentary Question E-002046/2026, the Commission was asked about securing maritime borders against unmanned threats. On 22 July 2026, Commissioner Costas Kadis detailed that European Defence Fund projects are developing AI-driven analytics and advanced sensors. The response indicates an ongoing strengthening of the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) and EUROSUR to enhance situational awareness, supported by regional cable hubs for threat detection.
An analysis of the Commission’s responses during this period indicates a distinct transition in EU digital policy from legislative architecture to operational enforcement and structural refinement. The Commission positions itself as a rigorous enforcer of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, relying heavily on technical safeguards, contractual measures, and independent audits—such as those detailed in the DMA data-sharing anonymisation protocols. Simultaneously, the institutional narrative strongly emphasises regulatory simplification, as evidenced by the focus on the Digital Fitness Check and Omnibus proposals designed to cut administrative burdens and stimulate domestic innovation.
Furthermore, the replies suggest a heightened focus on technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy without resorting to market isolation. The Commission frames its investments in AI skills, maritime surveillance capabilities, and the mandate of European bodies like ESMA as proportionate steps to build internal resilience. This approach reveals a pragmatic implementation strategy where the EU seeks to mitigate geopolitical dependencies and structural vulnerabilities while attempting to maintain a level playing field and cross-border cohesion within the single market.
All Parliamentary Questions and Commission Answers are accessible via Policy-Insider.AI.
