Authored by Alexandre de Streel, CERRE Academic Director and University of Namur.
This summer will be a busy one for the negotiators of the Digital Networks Act (DNA), which the European Commission tabled at the end of January 2026. In their One Europe, One Market Roadmap, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission committed to concluding negotiations by the end of 2027. Given the proposal’s breadth and complexity, there is no time to lose.
As early as September 2024, CERRE put forward a series of balanced proposals to reform the EU telecommunications framework, underpinned by an in-depth analysis by a large team of CERRE academics. We were pleased to see that several of these recommendations have been reflected in the Commission’s proposal.
CERRE continues to contribute to this important debate, remaining true to its mission of promoting ever better regulation. At the high-level conference organised by the Council Presidency in May 2026, our Founder and Executive Chairman, Bruno LIEBHABERG, observed that: “The DNA’s success will depend on whether Europe can uphold three disciplines at once: predictability for investment (particularly in spectrum policy); consistency in implementation across Member States; and an efficient and effective balancing of the trade-offs between competition, innovation, security and sustainability.”
One month later, during a hearing before the European Parliament’s ITRE Committee, I put forward four key recommendations. First, the DNA should be simple, predictable and innovation-friendly, particularly with regard to spectrum policy, access regulation, consumer protection and net neutrality. Second, it should avoid increasing the cost of operating networks—especially through requirements relating to copper networks and high-risk vendor equipment—unless such additional costs are appropriately compensated. Third, it should strengthen the internal market where this brings genuine benefits, for example in satellite communications, while avoiding the artificial creation of a single market in sectors such as fixed networks, where cross-border economies of scale and scope remain limited. Finally, it should exercise caution before further centralising powers at the European Commission, whose role is increasingly shaped by geopolitical considerations.
On 30 September 2026, we will host a members-only breakfast discussion with Pilar del Castillo, one of Europe’s leading Members of the European Parliament on telecommunications policy and the EPP Shadow Rapporteur for the Digital Networks Act, to discuss the progress of the Parliament’s work. Immediately afterwards, we will hold the Annual CERRE Competitiveness Summit, where my CERRE colleague Antonio Manganelli and I will present concrete recommendations to strengthen the Commission’s proposal and help ensure that it delivers on its ambitions. I hope to see you all there; in the meanwhile, I wish you a great summer break, full of inspirations, nice moments and great readings.
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