In his letter “EU focus on protecting the consumer is stifling innovation” (September 30) Danny Leipziger is correct to highlight the importance of lowering barriers to entry and improving the functioning of the EU’s single market. But he could not be more wrong about the EU’s regulatory focus on consumer protection. It is the combination of high consumer protection standards and competition to meet the demands of millions of consumers across Europe that give companies the incentive to increase the quality of their products, improve their efficiency and deliver innovation.
Large companies, including those in Big Tech, are continuing to pursue a vigorous campaign against EU legislation to protect consumers’ interests like the Digital Markets Act precisely because it aims to lower barriers for new market entrants, bringing more competition and ensuring that innovation is not dictated and controlled by a few powerful companies.
Agustín Reyna
Director-General, European consumers’ organisation BEUC, Brussels, Belgium
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