eDreams ODIGEO accuses Google of breaking the DMA: “The EU must act immediately”
In a strong public statement released today, eDreams ODIGEO has accused Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. of “blatant and continuous infringement” of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), highlighting that the European Commission “has not taken the necessary measures in a timely manner” against these practices.
The DMA, which came into effect in March 2024, was conceived as a tool to curb the power of digital giants – so-called “gatekeepers” – and ensure a level playing field in the digital environment. However, according to eDreams ODIGEO, almost 17 months later, Google continues with self-promotion practices on its own platforms, which harms millions of European businesses and consumers.
Delay in the implementation of the law
The European Commission had previously determined earlier this year that Google had likely infringed the DMA's provisions, but a final decision and official sanctions have yet to be made. This delay, according to eDreams, underestimates the importance of the law itself.
“Google undermined a key European regulation. Every day of delayed implementation means further damage to European consumers and businesses,” said Guillaume Teissonnière, eDreams' General Counsel.
Call for zero tolerance
eDreams ODIGEO calls on the Commission to begin decisive enforcement immediately and adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards infringers.
“The DMA was created to stop this kind of damage. If rules aren't enforced, it sends a message that they can be ignored with impunity,” the company concludes.
Context for tourism
This case is of particular concern to digital travel agencies such as eDreams, which are direct competitors to Google's own search and booking services. When Google promotes itself at the expense of other OTA platforms, this impacts prices, visibility, and the choice of options available to end-users.
If the European Commission truly wants to protect European consumers and enable fair market competition in the digital sector, it must resolutely enforce the DMA. Otherwise, it risks turning one of its most important digital regulations into a dead letter.
