Explore, Enhance, and Include – these three principles capture the broader ambitions of the Digital Networks Act (DNA), a cornerstone of the European Union’s Digital Decade vision for 2030. The proposal seeks to modernize Europe’s digital infrastructure, accelerate connectivity, and create a more integrated telecommunications market across Member States. However, as the DNA moves from policy ambition toward implementation, it is time to introduce another dimension: Evaluation.

From a policy and administrative perspective, the Digital Networks Act is designed to improve the internet and communication across Europe. It isa plan to strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure – faster, stronger, safer, and more consistent across all EU countries.

The EU believes that technologies such as AI, cloud computing, smart cities, self-driving vehicles, remote healthcare, and advanced manufacturing require better digital networks. The DNA aims to create those foundations.

As the DNA is progressing towards legislative procedure, the question now is not what the DNA wants to achieve, but whether it can actually deliver on its goals. Feedback from industry, regulators, civil society, and public authorities highlights several technical, administrative, and economic challenges that could impact the implementation of DNA. Looking at these gaps is key to seeing whether the DNA can truly create a connected, competitive, and integrated digital Europe.

After carefully reviewing the proposal and the consultation process, the European Pirate Party has sent its response to the European Commission. Our policy team aims to help the discussion by highlighting implementation risks, raising concerns that may have been overlooked, and suggesting ways to improve the DNA so it meets its goals while protecting competition, digital rights, transparency, and equal access to connectivity.

From Vision to Reality

The Digital Networks Act is one of the biggest changes to European telecommunications in recent years. It aims to simplify regulations, boost investment in fiber and new networks, support cross-border operations, and help Europe compete in the global digital economy.

The European Pirate Party sees these goals as important. Reliable, affordable, and secure connectivity is now essential for taking part in modern society. Digital infrastructure supports everything from education and healthcare to economic growth and democracy.

However, ambitious laws also need to work in practice. During the consultation, stakeholders often raised concerns that, if left unaddressed, could weaken the proposal.

Key Issues Identified in Our Submission

• Protecting the Open Internet and Democratic Oversight

The internet has thrived because it is open, neutral, and governed through transparent democratic processes. The Digital Networks Act introduces new powers that would allow the European Commission to define important aspects of specialized services through implementing acts.

While flexibility is sometimes necessary, decisions that could shape how the open internet operates should not move away from democratic scrutiny or independent regulatory oversight. Parliament and the Body of European Regulators for the European Commission (BEREC) each play distinct roles in ensuring that rules are developed transparently and in the public interest.

• Safeguarding Privacy While Strengthening Network Security

Europe’s digital infrastructure must be secure and resilient. As cyber threats continue to take increasingly menacing forms, stronger security requirements are both necessary and welcome.

However, stronger security should never come at the expense of fundamental rights. Certain provisions in the proposal could be interpreted too broadly, potentially allowing intrusive monitoring of communications or data retention practices without sufficient judicial safeguards.

• Ensuring a Fair and Inclusive Fiber Transition

Replacing aging copper networks with fiber is an important step towards building Europe’s digital future. Faster and more reliable connectivity benefits citizens, businesses, and public services alike.

But not every community will make that transition at the same pace. The current proposal allows for derogations when fiber deployment has not yet reached certain areas, yet it provides limited guarantees for users who may still depend on existing infrastructure.

Digital transformation should not leave people behind simply because they live in rural or less commercially attractive regions.

• Preserving Competition in Spectrum Allocation

The radio spectrum is one of Europe’s most valuable public resources. How it is allocated directly impacts competition, innovation, and consumer choice.

The DNA creates stronger expectations that existing license holders will be able to renew their spectrum rights. While this may encourage investment, it could also make it more difficult for new operators to enter the market and compete on equal terms.

A competitive digital market depends on opportunities for innovation and new entrants, not just stability for incumbent providers.

• Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Digital Governance

The Digital Networks Act gives BEREC an increasingly important role in supporting the operation of the European telecommunications market. As its responsibilities grow, so too should the mechanisms that ensure transparency and public accountability.

Stronger governance standards should match greater influence. Stakeholders, civil society organizations, and citizens should have meaningful opportunities to understand, scrutinize, and contribute to decisions that shape Europe’s digital infrastructure.

Evaluation

A recurring lesson from digital policymaking is that legislation does not end with adoption. The success of any regulatory framework ultimately depends on how effectively it is implemented, monitored, and adapted over time.

For this reason, the European Pirate Party believes that evaluation should become a core component of the Digital Networks Act. Continuous assessment of implementation outcomes, market impacts, consumer access, competition, and technological developments will be essential to ensuring that the framework remains effective and responsive.

The DNA could become a key part of Europe’s digital future. But its success depends not just on its goals, but also on whether policymakers address the real concerns raised during the consultation.

Looking Ahead

The European Pirate Party supports the goal of strengthening and connecting Europe’s digital infrastructure. We also believe that good laws should balance investment with competition, harmonization with flexibility, and new ideas with accountability.

Our submission to the European Commission reflects this view. By tackling the technical, administrative, and economic gaps found during the consultation, the Digital Networks Act can better deliver on its promise of a digital Europe that is connected, open, competitive, inclusive, and respects rights.

Though discussions on the proposal continue, we stay dedicated to contributing evidence-based recommendations that place citizens, digital rights, and the public interest at the center of Europe’s digital future.

​Attached is a copy of our formal submission. Click here to read:

PPEU DNA Feedback June2026 (9)Download

europeanpirates.eu/evaluating-…