Digital Single Market
Digital tax to come by Christmas, Moscovici says
The EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici has rallied the cause for an EU-wide digital tax to be rolled out in time for Christmas, amid a raft of opposition on the plans from member states, legal experts and industry associations.
Europe needs urgent cybersecurity action
Election interference. Fake news. Hyper-partisanship. Ransomware. Denial of service attacks. Cyber-terrorism. Welcome to Europe’s new normal, writes Philippe Cotelle.
EU digital tax: MEPs call for higher rates
The European Commission should consider increasing the proposed rates in the controversial digital tax plans, MEPs from the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs committee suggested on Tuesday (9 October).
Ireland joins growing list of EU digital tax opponents
The European Commission's proposal to oblige tech firms to pay a 3% levy on revenues faced a further setback on Sunday (7 September), as Ireland joined a growing list of member states opposing the measures.
Estonia and Finland first to start exchanging healthcare data by end of year
Estonia and Finland will start exchanging digital prescriptions at the end of the year, in a groundbreaking move that Estonian Health Minister Riina Sikkut said she hoped other EU countries will follow.
A ‘fifth freedom’ of the EU: MEPs back an end to data localisation
MEPs voted on Thursday to (4 October) to support the final text on the free flow of non-personal data across the EU, hailed as a potential game changer for the digital economy. The regulation was adopted with overwhelming support in the European Parliament with 520 votes to 81.
MEPs vote for more European TV on our screens
MEPs at the European Parliament backed plans on Tuesday (2 October) to ensure that at least 30 per cent of content provided by online media platforms such as Amazon and Netflix is European.
Supercomputers: EU to develop high-performance data infrastructures
Member states from across the European Union agreed on Friday (28 September) to take a leading role in the development of high-performance computers on the continent, an area where Europe has fallen seriously behind China and the US.
Europe should lead in greening digitalisation and AI
Greenhouse gas emissions linked to digitalisation are rapidly increasing, despite efforts by tech groups to get more of their energy from renewables. The negative environmental effects need to be addressed more clearly than today, argues Mats Engström.
Chancellor Merkel’s digital gurus
In Germany, a ten-member committee takes up its work to speed up the country's digitization efforts and ask uncomfortable questions. EURACTIV Germany's media partner "Der Tagesspiegel" reports.
Svoboda MEP: Europe needs a copyright regime for the internet age
European copyright law is stuck somewhere around 2000, in the era of satellite and cable broadcasting, not the internet age. That is why a copyright reform is needed, says Pavel Svoboda, the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs.
EU to slam Google with record fine ahead of Juncker US visit
Google is set to face a record-busting EU antitrust fine this week over its Android mobile operating system but rivals hoping that an order to halt unfair business practices will help them may be disappointed.
Plan for EU cybersecurity certification receives Parliament approval
A legal proposal to overhaul the EU’s cybersecurity rules passed a major hurdle on Tuesday (10 July) as the European Parliament’s Industry Committee (ITRE) approved a plan to create a voluntary system for certifying the security level of technology products.
Commission vs. Android: Killing the cow for a steak
Competition is what makes the world a better place, not intelligent design by God or by bureaucrats. Therefore, protecting competition is one of the key responsibilities of the European Commission. But in the case of Android, it is about to make a huge mistake, writes Žiga Turk.
Dramatic Parliament vote triggers upheaval of divisive copyright bill
A thin majority of MEPs blocked a controversial copyright bill from moving on to the next phase of negotiations in a dramatic vote on Thursday (5 July) that followed weeks of intense lobbying from tech companies, publishers, musicians and internet rights campaigners.
Seek new data deal with EU immediately, MPs tell May
The UK government should immediately open talks to secure a Data Adequacy Decision from the European Commission, MPs said in a new report published on Tuesday (2 July). VideoPromoted content
The EU App Economy
The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) recently published a study on the app economy showcasing its success and the profound societal impact that it has had in terms of making people’s lives better.
Negotiators reach quick agreement on law banning data localisation
EU negotiators sealed an agreement that will allow non-personal data to move freely across the bloc and ban national laws that require companies to store data within a country’s borders.
Controversial copyright overhaul passes Parliament committee, still faces political fight
A sweeping, controversial copyright reform bill passed through the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) on Wednesday (20 June), but the legislation could still be toppled during a make-or-break vote in the full chamber’s plenary session next month.
Copyright in the EU must balance interests of content creator and recipient
The copyright reform proposed by the European Commission will hinder work on artificial intelligence, harm smaller entities on the internet and simply make life more difficult for Internet users, argues Michał Kanownik in an interview with EURACTIV Poland.
Commission urges EU countries to publicly blame states behind cyber attacks
EU countries have been encouraged to name and shame foreign states that sponsor cybersecurity attacks, in an unusually outspoken announcement from the European Commission.
Parliament demands EU institutions ban Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity products
MEPs have called for the EU institutions to put more money into their in-house cybersecurity units and, in a contentious move, also demanded they stop using products from “malicious” Russian firm Kaspersky Lab.
Cybersecurity agency hopes for 24/7 crisis response centre in Brussels
The EU cybersecurity agency ENISA wants to open its first Brussels office by mid-2019 to manage major crises around the clock.