Digital Services Act: Commission sets rules on supervisory fees for very large online platforms and very large online search engines

Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Commission is empowered to impose a fee on providers under its supervision, which is expected to be levied for the first time in autumn 2023.  Today, the Commission has set the detailed rules and procedures for such supervisory fees to be levied.

The delegated regulation aims to provide legal certainty to the service providers designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) under the DSA. It specifies the methodology and procedures to calculate and levy the supervisory fee, provides further details on the calculation of the overall estimated costs to be covered with the levied fees and on the determination of the individual fees.

The DSA entered into force on 16 November 2022. The obligations for service providers designated as VLOPs or VLOSEs will become applicable four months after their formal designation in accordance with the DSA.

The delegated regulation proposed today follows a public consultation on the draft which took place between 22 December 2022 and 19 January 2023.

Following today’s adoption, the delegated act will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council, which have 3 months to scrutinise it. At their request, the scrutiny period can be extended by 3 months.