About: Marietje Schaake

Commission vows to spend €1.5 billion on artificial intelligence by 2020

The European Commission announced on Wednesday (25 April) that it will invest €1.5 billion into artificial intelligence research over the next three years, and was promptly hit with criticism for drafting its strategy years after the United States and China started their own massive funding plans.

Ansip surprises with proposal to step up work with US on cybersecurity

The European Commission surprised tech policy observers this week when it suggested to amp up transatlantic cooperation on cybersecurity, just as Europe’s relations with the US are under strain following the Facebook data leakage scandal.

MEPs approve export controls tailored to stop government surveillance

MEPs approved stricter rules on Wednesday (17 January) to control how European companies export technologies including software that could be used for surveillance, and any products that may violate human rights.

Kenya frustrated report into disputed election, EU’s observer claims

The Kenyan government blocked the presentation of the EU’s report on its hotly disputed presidential election, the head of the EU’s Election Observation Mission has claimed.

Trade MEPs want to scrap all EU export restrictions on encryption

MEPs want the European Commission to remove export control restrictions on technology products that use encryption.

MEPs amp up pressure on Commission over digital trade

MEPs are exerting pressure on the European Commission to draw up rules on data flows in foreign trade agreements, an area where the EU executive has so far not pinned down any tangible policy.

Tougher EU hate speech guidelines urge tech giants to prevent ‘digital Wild West’

The European Commission wants internet platforms to take down illegal posts faster, and is considering new legislation as one way to satisfy pressure from countries like Germany and France.

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).

EU looking into Russian fuel supply to Syria via Cyprus, Greece

The European Union is looking into whether Russian tankers carried jet fuel to Syria through the bloc's waters despite this being banned, an EU source said yesterday (23 November).

EU grandees seek plan to revive pride, wake up Europe after Brexit vote

Faced with the shocks that have disrupted the European construct, a number of opinion-makers, former Commissioners, ministers, and parliamentarians have slammed the European 'intellectual disease' which has prevented leaders using common sense to reignite the sense of pride in the EU project - starting with the young generation.

Commission proposes export controls to rein in surveillance technologies, to industry fury

EU companies are about to get hit with a controversial new export control law hampered by a wave of criticism this summer from technology firms, which contend that it will destroy their business abroad.

Commission pushes controversial ‘Google tax’ to save news publishers

EU plans to charge internet companies for linking to online news were presented today (14 September) after a heated, two-year-long fight over whether the “Google tax” will help publishers stay profitable—or simply be overzealous regulation that could "break the internet".

EU, Canada change ISDS clause, get closer to ‘gold-plated trade deal’

The European Commission announced on Monday (29 February) that  it has agreed with the Canadian government to amend the controversial investment protection clause to pulverise the risk of defeat  on a ratification vote of the trade agreement in the European Parliament.

EU internet freedom programme endangered by Commission muddle

EXCLUSIVE / The European Commission appears to have shelved a landmark programme that gave out aid money to help human rights workers, protestors and journalists access the internet.

Lawmakers rebuke US ‘digital protectionism’ charges

EU lawmakers have spoken out against accusations that Europe is promoting protectionism aimed at damaging American technology firms.

Parliament calls for stricter controls over surveillance tech exports

The European Parliament gave the green light on Tuesday (8 September) to a non-binding resolution calling for safeguards to ensure technology isn't implicated in human rights abuse, especially when it's exported outside of Europe for surveillance or censorship purposes. A European Commission proposal is expected next year.

Germany leaves Brussels behind on surveillance tech export controls

Germany's ministry of economics has agreed on a new law that will impose controls on the export of surveillance technologies but EU reform on export controls is still stalled.

Parliament votes on surveillance tech exports after fresh Hacking Team leaks

Leaked documents posted to Italian cybersecurity company Hacking Team's Twitter account on Sunday (5 July) revealed what appear to be the firms' government clients.

MEPs give passing vote to TTIP

The European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade has given its go-ahead to the European Commission on the EU-US trade agreement, conceding that a controversial arbitration clause, albeit reformed, needs to remain part of the deal.

No Digital Europe without a strong Telecom Single Market

Without more forward looking political leadership and an ambitious Telecoms Single Market, the European digital single market will remain only a virtual reality.

TTIP: MEP hails proposal to repeal US Jones Act

Liberal MEP Marietje Schaake flagged on Wednesday (14 January) a proposal by US Senator John McCain to repeal the 'Jones Act'.

EU policy towards Egypt must focus on human rights

Dutch Liberal MEP, Marietje Schaake has called on the European Union institutions and member states not to forget the political turmoil in Egypt and coordinate better to guide the work on the ground.

Europe needs an ambitious digital agenda

The European Parliament must take its responsibility to make Europe the smartest and most connected continent, starting with the creation of one committee for Digital Affairs and Technology, writes Marietje Schaake.

New technologies are key to foster EU transparency and participation

The EU should make better use of new technologies to improve its democratic decision making, transparency and participation. This is key in an election year, at a time when the sense of trust among citizens in its institutions is at an all-time low, writes Marietje Schaake.