1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
VICE-PRESIDENT Andrus Ansip
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium
T
E
+44 (0) 20 7215 5000
www.gov.uk/bis
4
April 2016
Dear Vice-President Ansip,
Joint Letter from the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Poland,
Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and
Bulgaria.
The development of new digital technologies, behavioural patterns and business
models is challenging the status quo and raising questions about how platforms
function within the Digital Single Market. The European Commission is rightly
emphasising the importance of this issue and collecting evidence as the basis for a
comprehensive analysis of the role of online platforms within the Digital Single
Market Strategy. We, the undersigned, ask that the Commission take the following
into account when considering the development of policies and initiatives relating to
digital platforms.
Platforms should be primarily seen as an opportunity, not a threat.
Platforms
are a development to be positive about. They are creative, innovative and drive
growth and competitiveness. The reason they have succeeded is that they offer
advantages for businesses and consumers alike. Businesses use platforms to reach
more customers and expand into new markets. They benefit from new funding
models and reduced costs. Consumers benefit from increased information and
convenience, choice and quality of services, and savings in money and time. It is
thus important that platforms are allowed to continue to be the drivers of innovation
and to meet customer demand.
Platforms are already subject to significant regulation.
Platforms must operate
within the law and we believe that we should look to the existing regulatory
framework to solve any concerns about the way platforms operate, whenever this is
possible. Existing legislative and non-legislative instruments,