Your consultant

In topic Digital Economy:

Dr. Matthias Kullas

Head of Division

+49 761 38693-236

kullas(at)cep.eu

Dr. Anselm Küsters, LL.M.

Head of Division

030-43973746-15

kuesters(at)cep.eu

Dr. Götz Reichert, LL.M.

Head of Division

+49 761 38693-235

reichert(at)cep.eu

Digital Economy

Digitalisation continues its advance across all sectors of the economy bringing with it huge opportunities for consumers and businesses alike. The ability to make use of these opportunities calls for high-grade IT infrastructure, effective competition and the confidence of consumers and businesses. It is the task of the European Union to ensure the existence of a legal framework which satisfies these three requirements EU-wide.

AI as Systemic Risk in a Polycrisis (cepAdhoc)

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Whether to protect against credit card fraud, to create climate models or to distribute police forces: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is penetrating everyday life ever more deeply. The data required for this mostly comes from phases of relative stability, which cannot be readily applied in times of crisis. The Centre for European Policy (cep) sees this as an underestimated systemic risk - and calls for rules.

NIS 2 Directive: New EU Rules on Cybersecurity (cepAdhoc)

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Hybrid warfare, hacker attacks, cyber-attacks: Parliament and Council have agreed on new cyber security regulations in Brussels. According to the so-called NIS 2 Directive, around 160,000 European companies and public authorities will in future be subject to uniform EU requirements for managing cyber risks and reporting cyber incidents. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) considers some regulations too broad and calls for a more efficient focus.

Chips Act (cepPolicyBrief)

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The European Union wants to massively expand the production of cutting-edge computer chips. The aim is to reduce dependence on countries such as the United States, Taiwan and South Korea through European research and production. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep), has doubts that the law will have this effect and fears a subsidy race worth billions. The cep had already warned against an industrial policy aberration last March.

Resisting or Rebooting the Rise of the Robots? (cepStudy)

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Figure generated by DALL-E 3 via ChatGPT with own prompt.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionise the world of work. While earlier technological advances enhanced the skills of employees and thus increased their productivity, so-called generative AI will irreversibly destroy entire job profiles. The Centre for European Policy (cep) has conducted a meta-analysis of empirical studies. According to the study, around 20 million workers in the EU would lose their jobs in the short term - accompanied by social unrest - if precautions are not taken quickly in view of AI’s exponential development.

AI Liability (cepPolicyBrief)

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Liability for damage resulting from artificial intelligence (AI) has so far often presented injured parties with difficulties in providing evidence as AI systems are usually complex and opaque. The Commission therefore wants to minimise these problems by introducing a duty of disclosure and a presumption of causality. Although the Centre for European Policy (cep) believes this makes sense, it has major legal concerns. The law should not be based on Art. 114 TFEU.

Weaponizing Social Media in Geopolitics (cepStudy)

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Lithium, cobalt, rare earths: The energy transition has sparked a global battle for critical raw materials. This war now also threatens to be fought on social media platforms such as Twitter (X). Possible weapons: Disinformation, fake news, and propaganda. This is the result of a study by the Centre for European Policy (cep).

EU-Metaverse Strategy: WEB 4.0 & Virtual Worlds (cepPolicyBrief)

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Virtual worlds like the metaverse promise growth and jobs. For this reason, the European Commission has drafted a so-called metaverse strategy. The Centre for European Policy (cep) considers the outlined measures questionable. They are misleading, unclearly formulated, and not competitive with US tech giants like Meta.

Volume 4: Regulatory and Financial Burdens of EU-legislation in four Member states – a comparative study

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European family businesses suffer because of the consequences of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It causes unnecessary costs and creates confusion because the same rules do not apply everywhere in the EU. This is the result of an empirical study conducted by the Centres for European Policy Network (cep) and Prognos AG on behalf of the Stiftung Familienunternehmen.

 

Der europäische Chips Act (cepAdhoc)

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Die Europäische Union will bis 2030 rund 45 Milliarden Euro in die Produktion hochmoderner Halbleiter investieren. Dazu weicht die Kommission mit dem sogenannten Chips Act bislang geltende strenge Beihilferegeln auf. Mit diesem Paradigmenwechsel will Europa die Abhängigkeit von den USA und von China reduzieren sowie in Forschung und Produktion autonomer werden. Brüssel reagiert damit auf Lieferengpässe, unter denen nicht zuletzt die deutsche Autobranche leidet. Das cep hält das Gesetz für einen industriepolitischen Irrweg.

EUid Wallet (cepPolicyBrief COM2021 281)

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Identity cards, driving licences, digital money: according to the Commission, Member States are to introduce so-called digital wallets. Smartphone apps are to replace the paper and card economy in purses by mid-2023. Each Member State must present a technical solution by then. The Commission has presented a corresponding proposal for a Regulation.

European Artificial Intelligence Act (cepPolicyBrief COM2021 206)

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Whether healthcare, work, consumption or media: artificial intelligence (AI) will change the lives of many people in various ways. The Commission therefore wants to create rules to protect the health, safety and fundamental rights of AI users. It wants to ban particularly dangerous AI systems. Other AI systems will be subject to obligations depended on their risk or voluntary codes of conduct. In some cases, there should be no obligations at all.

Digital Service Act Parts I-III (cepPolicyBriefs COM2020 825)

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Online platforms are often misused to spread terrorist propaganda and hate speech. Providers such as Facebook play a key role in combating illegal content. With the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Commission wants to improve the internal market and create a safe and transparent online environment.

Abuse of Dominance and Digital Markets Act (cepInput)

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Tech giants like Google, Amazon or Facebook dominate the global internet market. Competition law is not enough to prevent abuse of power. The Commission therefore presented the Digital Markets Act (DMA) last December. The law is intended to prevent operators of large internet platforms from restricting competition or imposing unfair conditions.

Digital Markets Act - Part II: Enforcement and Governance (cepPolicyBrief COM2020_842)

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The second part of the cepPolicyBrief on the Digital Markets Act examines enforcement and procedures of the planned law. Enforcement at the EU level avoids divergent application of the DMA in the individual member states. However, to ensure speedy procedures, national authorities should be involved in the application of the DMA.

Digital Markets Act - Part I: Obligations for Online Platforms (cepPolicyBrief COM2020_842)

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Tech giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook or Apple dominate the global internet market. Competition law is not enough to prevent abuse of power. The Commission therefore presented a law for digital services, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), last December. The law aims to prevent operators of large online platforms from restricting competition or imposing unfair conditions.

Data Governance Act (cepPolicyBrief COM2020_767)

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The EU Commission wants to promote the sharing of valuable data held by public authorities, companies and private individuals. This includes data donations, such as the voluntary sharing of health data for research into the Corona pandemic.

The Digital Markets Act (cepInput)

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The Commission is to release the Digital Markets Act, a legislative proposal aimed at ensuring competition in digital markets. In light of two public consultations and a speech by Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, a cepInput examines the Commission’s plans.

Tackling COVID-19 Disinformation (cepPolicyBrief)

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The EU-Commission presents several measures and tools to fight COVID-19 disinformation on online platforms. A cepPolicyBrief assesses the Commission’s approach.

European Leadership in the Digital Economy (cepStudy)

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Europe is falling further and further behind the United States and China, particularly in the areas of data economy and cloud computing. A cepStudy commissioned by the software provider SAP identifies three priorities and proposes seventeen detailed recommendations for policy measures that will enable the EU to take a leading role in the digital economy.

EU Data Strategy - Part 2 (cepPolicyBrief to Communication (COM 2020) 66)

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As part of its data strategy, the EU Commission wants to create European data spaces for various sectors, including the energy, health and financial sectors. It has announced its plans for this in a Communication.

EU Data Strategy - Part 1 (cepPolicyBrief to Communication (COM2020) 66)

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The EU Commission wants to create a Single European Data Space for personal, non-personal, public and business data and promote the sharing, use and re-use of data in the EU. It has announced its plans for this in a communication.

EU legal framework for Cryptocurencies (cepInput)

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The EU Commission wants to clarify the legal framework for cryptocurrencies. A cepInput provides an overview of the current state of regulation and examines whether and under which conditions cryptocurrencies are covered by the main provisions regulating the EU financial markets.

Liability for illegal content online (cepStudy)

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The EU-Commission has announced that it will update liabilities rules for digital services and products. Concrete proposals are to be published in the 4th quarter of 2020.

White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (cepPolicyBrief on White Paper COM(2020) 65)

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The European Commission proposes mandatory legal requirements for high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) applications, which must be followed by AI developers and users across the EU. A cepPolicyBrief evaluates the approach of the Commission's White Paper.

European strategy for artificial intelligence (cepAdhoc)

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The European Commission launched an European strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) and released a White Paper on it. Based on a leaked Commission document, cep had assessed the plans in advance.

Better implementation of the GDPR (CepPolicyBrief to communication COM(2019) 374)

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In a Communication, the EU Commission has outlined the current status of harmonisation by way of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and sets out what remains to be done to improve its uniform application. In May 2018, the GDPR replaced the existing Data Protection Directive.

Ethics Guidelines for AI (cepPolicyBrief to EU Communication)

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The EU Commission wants to promote the development of "trustworthy" and "human-centric" artificial intelligence (AI) in the EU. Therefore, AI should - inter alia - comply with ethical principles. To ensure this, an independent "High-Level Expert Group" has developed non-binding "Ethics Guidelines" (guidelines) on behalf of the EU-Commission which should be followed by developers and users of AI across the EU.

EU and OECD Ethics Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence

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This year, both the EU and the OECD have presented their own ethics guidelines for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). A cepInput compares the two guidelines.

Artificial Intelligence for Europe – Pillar 3: Legal and ethical rules for AI

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The EU promotes the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In its AI strategy, the EU also addresses the challenges and risks and demands that AI has to be “trustworthy”. Therefore, AI should be subject to appropriate legal norms and follow ethical rules.

Artificial Intelligence for Europe – Pillar 2: Adapting Education and Social Systems (Communication)

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The EU-Commission wants to support the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in order to safeguard the EU's global competitiveness. For this purpose, the EU Commission proposes a three-pillar "AI Strategy". The Commission is calling on the Member States to adapt their education and social systems to the new working environment.

Artificial Intelligence for Europe – Pillar 1: Investment in AI (Communication)

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The EU wants to support the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in order to safeguard the EU’s global competitiveness. For this purpose, the EU Commission has submitted two Communications and a “Coordinated Plan” in which it proposes a three-pillar “AI Strategy”.

A Europe fit for the digital age: Von der Leyen’s tasks for the new EU Commission – Part 3 (cepAdhoc)

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A cepAdhoc assesses the main tasks, regarding digitalisation, competition law and the internal market, which von der Leyen will be entrusting to her proposed Executive Vice-President Vestager and the Commissioners assigned to her in the area of Internal Market and (partly) Economy.

Cybersecurity – Part 2: Certification (Regulation)

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The EU Commission wants to set up a European cybersecurity certification scheme (ECCS) in order to increase confidence in products and services in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. In the light of increasing cybersecurity risks and attacks, it has therefore submitted the proposal for a Regulation.

Cybersecurity – Part 1: ENISA Reform (Regulation)

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The EU Commission wants to improve cybersecurity in the EU and for this purpose strengthen the cybersecurity agency ENISA. In cep’s view, this is urgently needed. The proposal to give ENISA a permanent mandate and increasing its funding and staff is also appropriate.

Single Digital Gateway (Regulation)

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The EU Commission wants to strengthen the Single Market and, to this end, set up an online portal providing information which citizens and businesses need in order to carry out cross-border activities in the EU. In addition, they will be able to use the portal to access and implement online administrative procedures of the Member States. Certain administrative procedures of the Member States will also be digitised.

Free Flow of Non-Personal Data (Regulation)

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By way of a Regulation, the EU-Commission wants to facilitate the free flow of non-personal data and improve competition between cloud providers and other data-processing services in the EU.

Data Transfers to Third Countries (Communication)

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The EU Commission wants to make the transmission of personal data to non-EU countries easier in order to promote mutual trade and effectively combat international crime.

New types of telecommunications services and end-user rights (Directive)

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The EU Commission wants to create a level playing field for providers of conventional and new types of electronic communications services (OTT services) and largely harmonise end-user rights. In cep's view, there is however no justification for the many proposed exceptions for number-independent interpersonal communications services in the area of end-user rights.

Privacy and electronic communications (Regulation)

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The EU - Commission wants a Regulation to protect the confidentiality of electronic communications and related end-user data more effectively and at the same time ensure the freedom of movement of such data. In cep’s view, the envisaged coherence with the General Data Protection Regulation has not been achieved. This results in legal uncertainty which weakens the EU as a location for the data economy.

Harmonising Radio Spectrum Licences (Directive)

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The EU Commission wants to further harmonise the rules on the use of radio spectrum. In cep’s view, the long minimum duration of 25 years for time-limited harmonised radio spectrum licences, envisaged by the Commission, should be abolished because, in the technologically fast moving telecommunications sector, it may result in the inefficient distribution of licences.

Universal Telecomms Services (Directive)

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The EU-Commission wants to revise the universal service rules in order to enable all EU citizens to have a broadband connection at an “affordable price”. In cep’s view, however, an obligation for universal service providers, to offer social tariffs below market prices in order to give low-income citizens a broadband connection, would be in breach of the freedom to conduct a business.

Supervision of the Telecommunications Sector (Regulation/Directive)

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According to the Commission, there are considerable weaknesses in the existing apparatus for supervising the telecommunications sector which consists of the national regulatory authorities (NRAs), other national authorities, the Commission, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the BEREC Office. It therefore wants to restructure this apparatus.

Copyright in the Digital Single Market (Directive)

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The EU Commission wants to facilitate the use of protected content for public interest purposes by way of restrictions on copyright. At the same time it wants to ensure fair remuneration for rightholders and press publishers.

Symmetrical Access Regulation and Termination Charges (Directive)

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The Commission wants to extend the regulation of telecoms network operators independently of market power in order to speed up the deployment of very high capacity networks. Upper limits on termination charges will indirectly bring down the price of calls.

Digital Cross-border Transmission of TV and Radio (Regulation)

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With the new Regulation, the EU Commission wants to facilitate cross-border access to television and radio programmes via digital channels. In cep's view, the Regulation distorts competition because it is framed in such a way that is neither supplier-neutral nor technology-neutral.

Access regulation for telecoms network operators with significant market power (Directive)

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The EU Commission wants to speed up the deployment of fast telecommunications networks. An access regulation for telecoms network operators with a dominant market position which gives more consideration to competition at retail level will contribute to this. cep welcomes this step but criticises the preferential regulatory treatment given to "very high-capacity networks".

Digital Single Market: European Cloud Initiative (Communication)

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The Commission wants to create a European Open Science Cloud, strengthen data infrastructure and invest in quantum technologies. A European Cloud, in cep's view, contributes to the efficiency and quality of research. Success, however, depends on information actually being put in the Cloud.

Geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination (Regulation)

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The EU Commission is planning to ban geo-blocking and other discrimination based on nationality, place of residence or establishment in order to improve cross-border online trade in goods and services. In cep's view, the bans will only rarely result in customers buying more across borders.

Digital Single Market: Digitising Industry (Communication)

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The European Commission wants to speed up the digitisation of European industry and calls, inter alia, for an EU-wide network of "Digital Innovation Hubs". These will help small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, to develop digital innovations more easily. In cep's view, public funds should not be channelled into such "Hubs".

Audiovisual media and video-sharing platforms (Directive)

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In view of the changing media landscape, the Commission wants to revise the rules on the provision of audiovisual media services and video-sharing platforms. In this regard, it proposes the harmonisation of competition rules applicable to television programmes and video-on-demand services. In cep's view, this is appropriate because both media services are in competition with one another.

ICT Standardisation Priorities for the Digital Single Market (Communication)

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The Commission wants to press ahead with the standardisation of information and communications technology (ICT). It is focussing, in this regard, on the "priorities" of cloud computing, the internet of things, 5G communications, cybersecurity and data technologies. In cep's view, setting priorities is appropriate.

Cross-border portability of online content (Regulation)

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Subscriptions to films and other online content will also be available for use during temporary stays in another Member State. This is provided for under a EU Commission proposal for a Regulation on the cross-border portability of online content. Until now, this has been prevented inter alia by national copyrights and licences.

Contract law for the supply of digital content (Directive)

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In addition to online sales of goods, the EU Commission also wants to boost the market for digital content and ensure that it can also be offered and acquired across borders. With the proposed Directive, it wants to fully harmonise the guarantee rights and other consumer rights in contracts relating to the supply of digital content and thereby remove legal uncertainty and promote sales of digital content.

Competition Challenges in the Consumer Internet Industry

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In the presence of EU-Commission Guenther Oettinger, cep has presented in Brussels its latest study on competition challenges in the consumer internet industry.

Digital Single Market Strategy – Pillar 3 (Communication)

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EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has declared that the completion of a Digital Single Market is one of the priorities of his period of office. With the Digital Single Market Strategy, the Commission wants to make the EU the leader of the digital economy. A central pillar of this strategy is the building of a "data economy" (Big Data, cloud services, Internet of Things).

Digital Single Market Strategy – Pillar 2 (Communication)

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In its Strategy for a Digital Single Market, the Commission lays down numerous measures to strengthen the European digital economy. This cepPolicyBrief deals with the second pillar of the Strategy (Digital networks and services). It deals, inter alia, with the reform of telecommunications regulations, the examination of the rules on audiovisual media services, online platforms, and with the rules on illegal content on the Internet.

Digital Single Market Strategy – Pillar 1 (Communication)

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The European Commission will harmonise the contractual rights of both parties in online purchasing EU wide. In addition, it will submit legislative proposals to prevent "unjustified geo-blocking". Geo-blocking is a technical measure used by online traders to restrict access to cross-border online purchasing by users in a specific geographical location.

Exceptions to copyright

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The European Commission has announced a reform of the copyright rules in the EU before the end of this year. It intends to reduce the differences between national copyright rules by way of harmonised exceptions. The cep assesses the benefits and problems of mandatory exceptions to copyright.

Net Neutrality: How European rules can foster innovation

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The cep investigates how EU net neutrality rules are best shaped to guarantee innovation. We extend the focus to the upcoming US regulation and conclude with six recommendations to EU policy makers.

Support for Crowdfunding (Communication)

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The EU Commission wants to promote financing by way of crowdfunding.

Broadband Investment: Non-discrimination, Price Control and Cost Accounting (Recommendation)

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The EU Commission wants to promote investment in NGA networks and maintain effective competition on the broadband market. It wants to do this by stricter non-discrimination obligations, greater clarity as to when obligations on price control for NGA networks should be removed and by imposing a standard costing methodology.

Mobile Health (mHealth) (Green Paper)

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The Commission wants to hold an open debate on the possibilities of mobile health and, in particular, to establish whether and what problems exist in relation to extending the sector. It calls on the public to answer a list of 23 questions.

Payment services: PSD II (Directive)

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With the proposal for a Directive on a 2nd Payment Services Directive, the Commission wants to promote the European payments market and encourage transparency, security and innovation in relation to payments.

Standard VAT Return for Businesses (Directive)

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In principle, every tax-liable business must submit a VAT return. The Commission wants to introduce an EU-wide mandatory standard VAT return. This consists of a standard form, harmonised tax periods and deadlines for the submission of VAT returns as well as harmonised rules on making corrections to the VAT return.

"eCall" Traffic Emergency Call System (Regulation)

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In order to speed up the arrival of emergency services, in the event of an accident, by 40-50%, the European Commission wants to introduce an EU-wide, standard emergency system for road traffic ("eCall"). An eCall device inside the vehicle will allow an emergency call to be sent, either automatically in the case of a "severe accident" or manually by the occupants of the vehicle, via the mobile telephone network to an emergency response centre. The aim is to reduce the number of fatalities and severe injuries caused by road accidents.

E-invoicing and end-to-end e-procurement for public contracts (Directive)

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The Commission intends all phases of the public procurement process to take place electronically from end to end and software systems for this to be compatible EU-wide. A binding European standard is to be developed for electronic invoicing, in particular.

Digital Single Market (Part 1) (Regulation)

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The EU Commission proposes an extensive overhaul of the digital single market rules. Part 1 of the cepPolicyBrief concerns net neutrality and the full harmonisation of the rights of end-users. Part 2 deals with the notification requirement for telecomms providers, radio frequencies and virtual broadband access. The change to the Roaming Regulation and cross-border fixed-network connections within the EU will be considered in Part 3.

Reducing the Cost of Broadband Deployment (Regulation)

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In order to promote the deployment of broadband, the Commission wants to reduce construction costs.

Network and Information Security (Directive)

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The Directive aims to ensure a minimum level of network and information security. The Commission wants to impose technical requirements and reporting obligations on certain market operators and public authorities. The Member States are to adopt strategies for network and information security. 

Data Protection (Regulation)

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The Commission wishes to reform the EU data protection law fundamentally with the General Data Protection Regulation. It is mainly aimed at an EU-wide full harmonisation of the data protection standard while taking account of the latest technical challenges of the internet age. It is to replace the existing Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC).

Intelligent Transport Systems (Directive)

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The Commission wishes to accelerate the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and to establish a legal framework. In its Action Plan the Commission calls for action and sets a timeframe for the deployment and improvement of single ITS.

Card, Internet and Mobile Payments (Green Paper)

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The Commission aims to implement a fully integrated payment market in the EU. In its Green Paper, the Commission presents action plans for the market integration.

Electronic Money (Directive)

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The EU Commission wishes to promote the circulation of electronic money by simplifying the legal requirements for the institutions concerned. The issuance of money is to be supervised according to its actual economic risk potential. Hence, the Directive treats institutions licensed to issue e-money different from credit institutions. Moreover, e-money institutions will be entitled to engage in further business activities. 

Future Networks and the Internet (Communication)

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The rapid development of the internet creates new services and applications. Not only the EU Commission, but also many national politicians call for "broadband access for all" and a quick expansion of high-speed networks in urban areas. The growing use of smart radio tags (RFID technology) storing and transmitting data, enables new applications on the one hand, but, at the same time, raises critical issues as to data protetion on the other hand.

Smart Grids (Communication)

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By means of modern information and communication technologies (ICT) “smart grids“ are to coordinate the behaviour of all grid users in order to ensure an economically efficient power system. The Commission wishes to draw up “appropriate measures” to expedite the set-up of such grids by the end of 2011.

Smart Tachographs (Regulation)

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Driving times and rest periods in road transport are subject to rules in order to improve road transport safety, improve drivers‘ working conditions and ensure fair competition between road transport companies.  By applying technically modernised “smart” tachgraphs, the Commission wishes to better enforce the rules on driving time and rest periods and reduce the administrative burdens for road transport companies and control authorities.

Mobile Termination Rates (Recommendation)

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The Regulation of mobile termination rates has become the arena of a power struggle between the EU-Commission and some Member States. The Commission insists that national regulators should apply the “pure-LRIC”-costing model.

Measures for Financially Unstable Euro Countries (Regulation)

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On the one hand, the Commission wishes conduct enhanced surveillance of euro countries, which might need to request financial assistance in future. On the other hand, the Commission wishes to see the tasks assigned by the bail-out package enshrined in secondary EU legislation.

MiFIR (Regulation)

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The Commission wishes to improve the transparency of financial market transactions, move derivatives trading to organised trading venues and strengthen supervision and competition. Moreover, it intends to strengthen investor protection. 

Electronic Identification and Trust Services (Regulation)

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The Commission wishes to enhance trust in electronic transactions in the internal market. To this end, it proposes a Regulation designed to extend the provisions of the existing Electronic Signature Directive (1999/93/EC) and to complement electronic identification and additional trust services.

Action Plan E-Commerce (Communication)

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The Commission wishes to promote the digital single market by setting new framework conditions and removing obstacles. To this end, it presents an action plan.

Access Prices and NGA Networks (Consultation)

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The Commission is initiating a consultation with the aim to (at first) adopt a non-binding recommendation. The recommendation is to serve as guidance to national regulatory authorities for fixing access prices during the transition phase between copper networks and fibre glass networks.  This approach is to create incentives for investments in ultra-fast NGA networks.

EU-wide Roaming (Regulation)

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The Commission proposes new price limits for calls, SMS and data communications services within a foreign EU Member State. These will be gradually reduced until 2014. Service providers are to receive access to networks of mobile network operators in other EU states to offer mobile communications services. Mobile users of roaming services may switch from their roaming provider to an alternative provider “at any moment”.

Data Retention (Report)

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The Data Retention Directive stipulates that providers of telecommunications, mobile and internet services are obliged to retain traffic and location data of users. The purpose of this is the investigation, detection and prosecution of “serious crime”. In its Report, the Commission evaluates the Member States’ application of the Data Retention Directive, its benefit and impact. 

Project Bonds (Consultation)

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In its consultation paper the Commission presents a model for infrastructure financing („Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative“): Private or public-private project companies issue bonds on capital markets to finance infrastructure (“project bonds”). Limited payment guarantees or credits provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) are to encourage private investors to buy project bonds.

Digital Agenda (Communication)

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The “Digital Agenda” designates “key actions” which will facilitate “smarter work” and the establishment of the Digital Single Market. It aims at a sustainable economic and social use of the Digital Single Market, rooted in fast internet connections for EU-wide services.

The Commission names as “key performance targets” for 2015, amongst other things, that 50% of the population buy online, the removal of tariff differences between telephone calls at home and abroad (“roaming”) and an average price per minute of 13 cents (including roaming).

State Aid for the Deployment of Broadband Networks (Guidelines)

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The Commission and many Member States have announced to support the deployment of boradband networks as part of their economic recovery packages. This includes not only traditional broadband networks but also new "NGA Networks". However, subsidies (State aid) are subject to certain conditions which the Commission clarifies in its latest Guidelines.

Re-Use of Public Sector Information (PSI) (Communication)

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The public sector possesses extensive information such as satellite images, judicial decisions or statistics ("Public Sector Information" - PSI), all of which can serve as raw material for products and services offered by private providers such as navigation systems, weather forecasts or financial services. The Directive 2003/98/EC (“PSI Directive“) is to remove barriers to the private use (“re-use”) of PSI in the internal market. The aim of the Communication is to review the impact thus far of the PSI Directive and to show new ways to tap the full economic potential in re-using PSI.

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