Digital Networks Act (DNA) – Quality of governance key to future-proofing the EU’s digital connectivity

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) backs the Commission’s proposed Digital Networks Act and says there is a need to remove internal market barriers and ensure uniform rules. Effective governance is essential, with a clear allocation of competences between the EU and national authorities, which avoids overlaps and institutional duplication.

The Digital Networks Act (DNA) will only be successful if it delivers secure, resilient and inclusive connectivity that truly works for Europe’s people, businesses and regions. This is the main message of the opinion on the Digital Networks Act (DNA), drawn up by Maurizio Mensi and adopted at the June plenary session, which throws its support behind the European Commission proposal to boost the EU’s connectivity.

The EESC underlines that the telecommunications sector plays a vital role and welcomes the overall objectives and balanced approach of the Digital Networks Act. With the Commission’s proposal, the EU is carrying out a much needed and proportionate update of its framework for electronic communications, aimed at strengthening the internal market, competitiveness and security, and supporting the digital and green transitions.

‘The Digital Networks Act is a strategic intervention with direct implications for competitiveness, security, and the ability of organised civil society to operate in a genuine single market,’ said Mr Mensi. ‘It is a significant step in the reform process of European connectivity, with the end goal of setting a more modern, harmonised and investment-friendly regulatory framework for the Union’s digital networks.’

Overcoming the current fragmentation of the electronic communications market

The EESC singles out three points in particular:

1) Security and simplification

First, the Digital Networks Act must offer both security and simplification through a proportionate and risk-based approach which updates obsolete rules and strengthens resilience. Simplification is not the opposite of security but a prerequisite for effectively putting it into practice.

In order to remove internal market barriers and ensure uniform rules, the EESC argues that a regulation as the legal instrument for the Digital Networks Act is the best choice, as it enhances legal certainty and effective enforcement of EU law. A regulation provides directly applicable rights and obligations for providers, authorities and end users, reducing the risk of divergent national transposition and legal fragmentation.

2) Governance

Second, governance is as important as legal rules and only consistent coordination between all stakeholders will make it possible for the newly designed rules to be effective and not bring about new fragmentation.

To avoid overlaps and institutional duplication, the Committee calls for a clear allocation of competences between the Office for Digital Networks (ODN), the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), the Radio Spectrum Policy Body (RSPB) and the national regulatory authorities (NRAs).

3) Transparency

Third, the governance framework must ensure transparency and participation, a structured dialogue with social partners and civil society, and a consistent implementation across the EU’s Member States.

It is particularly important that the social dimension of digital transformation feed the European political debate, so that innovation and technological development translate into concrete opportunities for workers, professionals, businesses and local communities.

Background – The Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposal

The Proposal for a Regulation for the Digital Networks Act (DNA) was adopted by the European Commission in January 2026 and aims to modernise the legal framework for connectivity to boost innovation and investment in an advanced and resilient digital infrastructure. The objective is for the European Union to become the most connected continent by 2030, with universal gigabit broadband and 5G in populated areas.

The proposal merges several legal acts into one directly applicable regulation, replacing the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), the BEREC Regulation, the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme and the core parts of the Open Internet Regulation as well as Directive 2002/58/EC on ePrivacy. The proposal also complements the Gigabit Infrastructure Act.

Connectivity is about both access and real-time data exchange. Robust, fast and secure networks support digital skills development, business innovation (for example Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud), and essential e-government and health services. They also make it possible to close the digital divide, ensuring inclusive participation and competitiveness across the EU.