ZEI Monitor: EU Progress 2019-2024
ZEI follows the policy progress in the six areas which have priority for the EU institutions over the period 2019-2024:
Commission Priority 2: A Europe Fit for the Digital Age
Policy Areas
Data Protection
Better access to online goods for consumers and businesses
The right environment for digital networks and services
Economy and Society
European Commission Work Program:
Please click on the respective policy objective to learn more.
2020 (revised after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic)
Europe fit for the digital age
1. White Paper on Artificial Intelligence setting out options for a legislative framework for trustworthy AI (adopted together with this Communication), with a follow-up on safety, liability, fundamental rights and data (Q4 2020). 2. Building and deploying cutting-edge joint digital capacities in the areas of AI, cyber, super-and quantum computing, quantum communication and blockchain. European Strategies on Quantum and blockchain (Q2 2020) as well as a revised EuroHPC Regulation on supercomputing. 3. Accelerating investments in Europe’s Gigabit connectivity, through a revision of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive, an updated Action Plan on 5G and 6G, a new Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (2021).5G corridors for connected and automated mobility, including railway corridors, will be rolled out (2021-2030) (2021-2023). 4. A European cybersecurity strategy, including the establishment of a joint Cybersecurity Unit, a Review of the Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive and giving a push to the single market for cybersecurity. 5. A Digital Education Action Plan to boost digital literacy and competences at all levels of education (Q22020). 6. A reinforced Skills Agenda to strengthen digital skills throughout society and a reinforced Youth Guarantee to put a strong focus on digital skills in early career transitions (Q2 2020). |
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A European approach to Artificial Intelligence
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Digital services
European Parliament resolution of the 20th of October 2020 on the European Commission's planned legislative proposal on digital services and on issues relating to fundamental rights, together with a series of own-initiative reports: 1. Report (JURI) of the 5th October 2020 with recommendations to the EU Commission on the Digital Services Act: Adaptation of commercial and civil law rules for companies operating online: a) updating EU rules on "notice and action" procedures to protect users' rights, b) stricter conditions for targeted advertising, c) less power for algorithms; d) Existing or new EU body for monitoring and imposing fines; 2. Report (IMCO) of the 7th of October 2020 with recommendations to the Commission on the Digital Services Act: Improving the functioning of the Single Market: a) Creating new rules to define the responsibilities of digital service providers, address risks for users and promote innovative services across the EU; b) A clear and binding mechanism to fight illegal online content; making the internet safer for consumers; c) Specific rules for large platforms to facilitate market entry for start-ups 3. Draft report (LIBE) on the Digital Services Act and fundamental rights issues of 27th of April 2020: a) Updating EU rules on "Notice and Action" procedures to protect users' rights; b) Stricter conditions for targeted advertising; c) Less power for algorithms; d) Existing or new EU body to monitor and impose fines
With the help of the new budget, the EuroHPC JU is to perform important tasks: (1) Building and using a world-class high-performance computing and data infrastructure in the EU (the aim is to have 3 of the 5 best supercomputers in the world) |
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Increasing cybersecurity
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Digital for consumers
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A new industrial strategy for Europe
1. A new industrial policy strategy comprising a bundle of individual measures |
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Aviation services package
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Towards a European Research Area
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Digital finance
1. The Proposal for a Regulation on Crypto-Assets (a digital representation of values or rights that can be stored and traded electronically) intends to promote innovation while preserving financial stability and protecting investors from risk. 2. The Proposal for a Regulation on a Pilot Scheme for Market Infrastructures based on Distributed Ledger Technology aims to ensure an adequate level of consumer and investor protection, to provide legal certainty for crypt assets, to enable innovative companies to use block chain technology, distributed ledger technology ("DLT") and crypt assets, and to safeguard financial stability. Crypto values are one of the most important applications of block chain technology in finance. The Regulation lays down requirements (operating license, operating conditions, supervision, etc.) for multilateral trading facilities and securities settlement systems using distributed ledger technology ("DLT market infrastructures"). DLT is a class of technologies that support the decentralized recording of encrypted data. With the package, the Commission aims in particular to promote Europe's competitiveness and innovation in the financial sector, with four main objectives: 4. The new legal framework also includes a Proposal for a Directive that amends and intends to clarify existing European financial services directives and establish a temporary exemption for multilateral trading facilities in order to strengthen the overall operational stability of digital systems and to ensure legal certainty with regard to Crypto-Assets. |
ZEI Publications on EU Digital Policy
Dominique Roch: Priority 2: European Digital Single Market or the Collective Failure of Individuals, in: Stüwe, Robert / Panayotopoulos, Thomas (eds.): The Juncker Commission. Politicizing EU Policies (Schriftenreihe des Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung, Vol. 79), Nomos: Baden-Baden 2020, p. 91-107, ISBN 978-3-8487-5597-4.
Johannes Wiggen: Chancen und Grenzen europäischer Cybersicherheitspolitik, ZEI Discussion Paper C 261/2020. (Download) (Abstract)
Christian Koenig / Carl Prior: The policy objective 'digitization' and European Union Law, in: Robert Stüwe / Liska Wittenberg (eds.): ZEI Future of Europe Observer. Von der Leyen: Europe's New Deal Despite Corona?, Vol. 8 No. 1 April 2020, p. 4-5. (Download)
Robert Klotz: Cartels and Restrictive Agreements in the Liberalized Telecommunication Sector – EU and National Competition Law Enforcement, in: Christian Koenig / Ludger Kühnhardt (eds.): Governance and Regulation in the European Union. A Reader (Schriftenreihe des Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung, Vol. 77), Nomos: Baden-Baden 2017, p. 253 - 270, ISBN print: 978-3-8487-4462-6; ISBN online: 978-3-8452-8672-3.
Chiara Ristuccia: Industry 4.0: SMEs Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of Digitalization, ZEI Discussion Paper C 252/2019. (Download) (Abstract)
ZEI Insights Policy Brief Series (2014-2019)
Jurisprudential Publications on the Digital Single Market