This Week in Hospitality & Retail — Brussels (#15, 2026)
EU signs 'One Europe, One Market' Roadmap; Parliament motions target DMA enforcement, unfair competition, GMOs; Council prepares culture/sport policy; Tourism press conference scheduled.
April 19, 2026 to April 25, 2026
EU signs 'One Europe, One Market' Roadmap; Parliament motions target DMA enforcement, unfair competition, GMOs; Council prepares culture/sport policy; Tourism press conference scheduled.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📝 EP Motions & Questions
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
European Institutions agree Roadmap to achieve 'One Europe, one Market' by end of 2027
On 23 April 2026, the President of Cyprus (Council Presidency), Presidents of the European Parliament and Commission signed the 'One Europe, One Market Roadmap' during an informal meeting in Cyprus. The Roadmap sets concrete targets to strengthen Europe's competitiveness and achieve full integration of the Single Market by the end of 2027. Actions include quarterly progress reviews, clear legislative proposal targets, and regular stocktaking for transparency. Institutional responsibilities are delineated for all EU bodies. President Nikos Christodoulides described the Roadmap as a strategic step for resilience and prosperity. President Roberta Metsola and President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the Roadmap's ambitions for economic growth, digital transformation, and industrial resilience.
EU Council
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council to address culture and sport policy
Ministers for culture, audiovisual, media, and sport will convene on 12 May 2026 to discuss AgoraEU, the 2027-2030 EU work plan for culture, sport tourism, sustainable development, and mental health in sport.
EP Motions & Questions
Motion for a resolution on the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act
Anna Cavazzini (IMCO) and Andreas Schwab (PPE Group) tabled a motion (B10-0190/2026) addressing enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2022/1925. The motion references recent gatekeeper designations, concerns over self-preferencing, and calls for rigorous implementation and periodic review of DMA, with particular scrutiny of cloud and AI-driven platform services.
Motion for a resolution on the protection of EU companies, jobs and products against unfair competition from non-EU countries
Bogdan Rzońca (PETI) submitted motion B10-0185/2026 calling for strengthened enforcement of product safety, customs, and consumer protection rules against non-EU competition, referencing Regulation (EU) 2024/3015, recent customs reforms, and EU legislative toolbox for e-commerce.
Motion for a resolution on authorising genetically modified soybean MON 94637
Martin Häusling, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Biljana Borzan, and Anja Hazekamp (ENVI) tabled motion B10-0186/2026 opposing the Commission’s draft implementing decision under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, citing incomplete risk assessment and democratic deficit in GMO authorisations.
EP Committee Work
IMCO Committee: Motion for a resolution on the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), with rapporteur Andreas Schwab, issued amendments to the resolution on DMA enforcement (22 April 2026). The document details scrutiny of compliance, enforcement tools, and challenges regarding user interfaces, cloud services, and AI-driven platforms.
PETI Committee: Motion for a resolution on unfair competition from non-EU countries
The Committee on Petitions (PETI), rapporteur Bogdan Rzońca, published a motion (21 April 2026) addressing product safety, customs reforms, and regulatory gaps in e-commerce, referencing EU legislative measures and recent customs duty exemption removal for parcels below EUR 150.
IMCO Committee: Report on simplification for chemical products
IMCO, rapporteur Piotr Müller, released a report (20 April 2026) on amendments to Regulations (EC) No 1272/2008, (EC) No 1223/2009, and (EU) 2019/1009. The report proposes simplification of procedures for chemical products in the internal market.
IMCO Committee: Draft opinion on institutional aspects of artificial intelligence
Rapporteur Gheorghe Piperea (IMCO) submitted a draft opinion (20 April 2026) for the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on AI institutional aspects. The document covers human oversight, transparency, administrative capacity, and disparities among Member States, with amendments addressing responsibility and risks of algorithmic systems.
EMPL Committee: Provisional deal to update social benefit rules for EU mobile workers
On 23 April 2026, EMPL committee announced a provisional agreement with the Council on modernised social security coordination rules. The deal covers unemployment benefits, family and long-term care benefits, and strengthens fraud prevention and cooperation measures for posted workers.
TRAN Committee: European tourism strategy press conference scheduled
TRAN committee will hold a press conference on 28 April 2026 regarding Parliament's vote on promoting European tourism. Rapporteur Daniel Attard (S&D, MT) will discuss proposals for sustainable tourism, including short-term rental framework and electric vehicle infrastructure.
What We're Reading This Week
- ECB steps up its challenge to Visa and Mastercard: The European Central Bank advances efforts to boost competition in payments, seeking alternatives to dominant card networks.
