The EU Commission should embrace a vision for European online commerce based on the principle of enabling truly independent small businesses. Valuing the independence of small businesses is just as critical as expanding their opportunities.

Driving marketplaces to take control of the business decisions of small firms using online marketplace services is a dangerous trend that threatens the diversity of businesses and services and concentrates power to a few. Rather than encouraging inclusive growth, this will limit small business internationalization to that of an input in the supply chain of a multinational marketplace.