European values are at the heart of both proposals. The new rules will better protect consumers and their fundamental rights online, and will lead to fairer and more open digital markets for everyone.

A modern rulebook across the single market will foster innovation, growth and competitiveness and will provide users with new, better and reliable online services.

It will also support the scaling up of smaller platforms, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups, providing them with easy access to customers across the whole single market, while lowering compliance costs.

Furthermore, the new rules will prohibit unfair conditions imposed by online platforms that have become, or are expected to become, gatekeepers to the single market.

The two proposals are at the core of the Commission's ambition to make this 'Europe's Digital Decade'.

Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said: “Many online platforms have come to play a central role in the lives of our citizens and businesses, and even our society and democracy at large. With today's proposals, we are organising our digital space for the next decades. With harmonised rules, ex ante obligations, better oversight, speedy enforcement, and deterrent sanctions, we will ensure that anyone offering and using digital services in Europe benefits from security, trust, innovation and business opportunities.”