e-Commerce
Darknet guru: New technology can help build European identity
Modern technology could shore up the European project, boost transparency and help governments collect taxes. Author Jamie Bartlett told EURACTIV.com that the EU should become the great technological innovator but warned that politicians simply aren’t prepared for massive changes ahead.
EU agrees to fund free Wi-Fi for European towns with no internet coverage
European Union legislators agreed yesterday (29 May) to set aside €120 million to provide free wireless internet connections by 2020 to up to 8,000 municipalities in the EU in areas with no internet coverage.
Online platforms face EU regulation on transparency and business contracts
Internet platforms like Google, Facebook and Amazon Marketplace face regulation over their contracts with other businesses by the end of the year, under possible new EU legislation announced today (10 May).
Belgian dentists smiling as advertising ban ruled unlawful by EU court
Belgian dentists should not be banned from advertising their services, according to the European Court of Justice, which ruled that a national moratorium contradicts EU law.
MEPs want to lift online geoblocking for Spotify and ebooks
MEPs in the Internal Market Committee approved geoblocking rules that could open up access to music streaming sites and ebook sales across the EU, going beyond the European Commission's proposal and setting up a fight with industry groups.
Boosting e-commerce in the EU: drivers and barriers
E-commerce sales have been the main growth engine of the retail sector over recent years. However, according to the European Commission 75% of the Europeans use the Internet on a regular basis, while only 15% shop online from another country and only 7% of SMEs sell cross-border.
Your imagination is tomorrow’s innovation
Digital technologies and communication have the potential to uphold a strong and dynamic internal market fit for the digital age, ultimately making every European citizen’s life much better, writes Antonio López-Istúriz.
Brussels eyes EU-wide licence for FinTech startups
The European Commission wants to create a special regime to attract FinTech companies in Europe and help the old continent compete globally on this promising new market, EU sources told EURACTIV.com.
Deal in sight for Amazon in e-books case against EU
An imminent commitments decision in the Amazon e-books case would help both parties avoid an escalation which would be in neither of their interests, according to sector experts. EURACTIV’s partner PaRR reports.
Dreaming big can help reform gigabit society
Europe’s digital transformation will connect previously-isolated rural communities and create jobs in multiple sectors, as well as improving individual wellbeing through eHealth solutions and encouraging SMEs to flourish, writes Pierre Louette.
Chinese messaging app WeChat courts European business for ad sales and e-commerce
Messaging and e-commerce app WeChat is courting European businesses to advertise and sell to its more than 700 million users in China.
Microsoft wins EU approval for LinkedIn buyout
Microsoft won EU antitrust approval on Tuesday (6 December) for its $26 billion (€24.2bn) bid for professional social network LinkedIn, its largest ever acquisition, after agreeing to a series of modest concessions.
Netzpolitik editor: Trump will press on with ‘insidious’ TiSA deal
TTIP and CETA aren't the only controversial trade deals around. Net politics activist Markus Beckedahl told EURACTIV Germany that the proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is a huge threat to data protection.
Android: Choice at every turn
The Android operating system hasn’t hurt competition in smartphones. Rather, it has expanded it, writes Ken Walker.
China and Europe pave the way for seamless worldwide e-commerce
The Digital Single Market may offer China some inspiration for adopting an electronic world trade platform that can tear down national borders and boost international e-commerce, writes Luigi Gambardella.
A cashless society is a fairer society
Greater transparency is key to combatting VAT fraud and the shadow economy, writes Jason Lane.
EU may require YouTube, DailyMotion to seek deals with music industry
Websites such as Google's YouTube, DailyMotion and Pinterest could be required to seek licences or revenue-sharing deals with artists for content that is uploaded by their users as part of the European Union's planned copyright overhaul.
Privacy Shield: A victory for the transatlantic economy
The EU-US Privacy Shield goes live today (1 August). Věra Jourová and Penny Pritzker argue that this is good for citizens, businesses and the economy on both sides of the Atlantic.
Privacy Shield is the right replacement for Safe Harbour
The EU-US Privacy Shield agreement should be approved because it significantly strengthens Europeans’ privacy rights and improves the privacy protection of US citizens, writes Julie Brill.
Time for a stakeholders-led platform to shape e-commerce rules
E-commerce is revolutionising, raising new challenges on governance, regulation and traditional international rules. Time is ripe for a stakeholder-based World e-Trade Platform (eWTP) to propose new standards and incubate rules, writes Luigi Gambardella
Airbnb awaits Berlin ruling on legality of home-sharing
A Berlin court is due to make a landmark ruling with ramifications for home rental firms such as Airbnb on Wednesday (8 June) when it decides if homeowners can engage in short-term lets.
MasterCard international chief: ‘Brexit wouldn’t be a significant change for us’
Blockchain is expected to have a larger impact on our business than a potential Brexit, suggests MasterCard’s deputy boss, Ann Cairns. In her view, the technology behind virtual currencies like bitcoin is “a good thing for the future”, she told EURACTIV.com.
Spotify spared from Commission’s geoblocking plans for now
The European Commission has narrowly avoided a showdown with the music industry and e-book publishers over its new plans to stop e-commerce firms charging buyers more if they live in certain EU countries.
EU plans to free up online shopping, set Netflix quotas
The EU is set to unveil proposals Wednesday (25 May) to make firms lift international barriers for Internet shoppers, and to force Netflix and Amazon to accept quotas for European movies and TV shows.