The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has selected three industries as key priorities of 2022: the energy transition & sustainability and the digital economy, and the housing market.
First, ACM has given energy companies more financial leeway for investing in the transition towards sustainable energy. In 2022, ACM will assess whether these opportunities have actually been used. ACM also gives energy companies more scope for experiments, for example, with hydrogen. In addition, ACM will continue to take enforcement action against misleading sustainability claims in the energy sector. ACM will also ensure that consumers continue to be supplied electricity and natural gas if their suppliers go bankrupt with the help of regulatory tools.
Second, since digital economy carries risks for consumers such as abuse of dominance, and misleading practices through algorithms and undue influencing, ACM will continue taking action against unfair reviews and fake likes, among other misleading practices in 2022. It also will decide on access for telecom providers without networks of their own to fixed networks. Lastly, ACM will also publish guidelines regarding competition rules for IT suppliers in health care.
And third, as for the housing market, since the Dutch housing market is extremely tight nowadays, ACM does its part by tightening its oversight of rental agencies and realtors. In addition, ACM will carry out a study into market power on the municipal-land market for residential construction. The study will primarily focus on plots that can be developed, but where no development is planned.
(ACM- 27.01.2022)
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NAZALI TAX & LEGAL |