Spotlight on the EU digital strategy
One of the main political priorities of the European Commission for 2019 to 2024 is to shape the EU so that it is fit for the digital age and empower its citizens with a new generation of technologies. Part of this endeavour is the ‘European strategy for data’, envisioning a single market for data to ensure the EU’s global competitiveness and data sovereignty. In this environment, common European data spaces that are part of a digital single market will ensure that more data becomes available for use in the economy and society, while keeping companies and individuals who generate the data in control.
In this context, the Commission recently proposed a comprehensive set of new rules for all digital services, including social media, online marketplaces and other online platforms that operate in the European Union: the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. The former determines intermediaries’ obligations and accountability across the single market to ensure a high level of protection for users. It proposes rules on how platforms moderate content, on advertising, on algorithmic processes and on risk mitigation. The end goal is to ensure that platforms – in particular the very large ones – assume responsibility for their actions and the systemic risks they pose, including that of disinformation. The latter act aims to ensure that such large online platforms, which act as ‘gatekeepers’ in digital markets, behave in a fair way. These two acts are centrepieces of the EU digital strategy.
Almost at the same time, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a new EU cybersecurity strategy. This is intended to bolster the EU’s collective resilience against cyberthreats, safeguard a global and open internet and protect EU values and the fundamental rights of its people.
The February edition of our newsletter features publications related to these important recent developments in the EU digital strategy and several other interesting topics.
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Impact assessment support study: executive summary and synthesis report
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The digitisation of services has driven widespread innovation and increased competition and consumer benefits. However, digitisation has also been associated with the ability of certain players to act as gatekeepers, with the power to impose unfair terms on dependent businesses. Available evidence suggests that Europe will benefit from the introduction of EU-wide legislation to apply ex ante regulatory obligations to gatekeeper platforms. The impact assessment report of the Digital Markets Act examines this evidence. |
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European added value assessment |
This study analyses the potential European added value that could be achieved by enhancing the current EU regulatory framework on digital services. The scope of the assessment includes the analysis of the e-commerce directive and more broadly of commercial and civil law rules applicable to commercial entities operating online. |
Available in English |
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Threat landscape for artificial intelligence |
Artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing people’s everyday lives and playing a key role in digital transformation through its automated decision-making capabilities. The benefits of this emerging technology are significant, but so are the concerns. This report maps the AI cybersecurity ecosystem and its threats, warning that AI may open up new avenues for manipulation and attacks, along with posing new privacy and data protection challenges. |
Available in English
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More on this topic |
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A report from a panel of economic experts |
Over the last few years, several reports have highlighted the market power of very large online platforms that act as gatekeeping intermediaries between businesses and consumers. The Digital Markets Act was recently presented in response to this phenomenon. This report presents an independent economic opinion on the act and offers economic arguments to make it stronger when dealing with large, dominant digital platforms. |
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This analysis explores the mechanisms of ‘fake news’ (redefined as ‘malinformation’) and their societal costs in the digital single market. It describes the risks to integrity of information and to integrity of elections. It highlights the roles of the various actors involved in the production and amplification of such information disorders. Finally, it outlines responses that are being tested in different parts of Europe. |
Available in English |
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The European digital single market: delivering economic benefits for citizens and businesses |
Numerous legislative measures have been initiated or enacted in support of the overall achievement of a digital single market. This study provides a brief stocktake of what has been achieved in economic terms, of what remains to be done and of candidate initiatives for the next legislative term.
If you have a special interest in the topic, you can also check out the Digital Agenda Scoreboard, a web application that allows you to interactively create graphs from about a hundred indicators related to the European information society. |
Available in English and Polish |
Also out recently
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An ambitious initiative whose success depends on the continued commitment of the EU, governments and businesses. |
Digitalisation is associated with better business performance. In this report, the European Court of Auditors assesses the results of the ‘digitising European industry’ initiative launched by the Commission in 2016 to support the digitalisation of EU industry. The report concludes that the Commission strategy was soundly based but has so far had limited influence on the individual strategies of most Member States. |
Available in all the official languages of the EU except Irish |
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This web publication presents the annual evaluation of education and training systems across Europe by the European Commission. It brings together the latest data, technical papers and studies, along with examples of policy measures from different EU countries. In addition, it offers a cross-national and thematic analysis as well as 27 individual country reports. |
Available in all the official languages of the EU except Irish and Maltese |
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DATASETS |
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Check out the datasets on COVID-19 vaccines in the EU Open Data Portal. These datasets can be reused freely by the public, including businesses, researchers and developers, in order to spread knowledge and help tackle the pandemic and its effects. |
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Research and innovation |
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When COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill in March 2020, one of the industries hit the hardest was without a doubt aviation, a strategically important industry for the EU. And because of its importance, the EU is very much invested in the future of aviation. In particular, the EU continues to pursue its aviation strategy, a milestone initiative designed to generate growth for EU businesses, foster innovation and ensure passengers benefit from safer, cleaner and cheaper flights. The special feature of this issue of Research*eu highlights how the industry can and will evolve over the coming years, guided by excellent EU-funded research – and in spite of the pandemic that effectively brought the industry to a grinding halt in 2020. |
Available in English
(Individual article also available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish on the CORDIS website)
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Full report |
The global pandemic is no doubt a crisis of historic proportions. Its effects, though unevenly distributed, have been felt by the whole European Union; it has upended priorities and become the overriding focus of public policy and public action at all levels. This report examines the consequences of the pandemic in different domains from a regional and local standpoint. |
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Get up to speed with the new rules |
The same charges that apply to goods bought online from non-EU retailers now apply to online shopping from the United Kingdom. To avoid unwelcome surprises when you order online from the United Kingdom, always read the terms and conditions and the delivery information carefully. Companies selling online to the EU have an obligation to inform customers about surcharges. Find out more in this factsheet. |
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Spring 2020 : key findings from surveying families in 11 European countries |
The lockdown affecting most European countries in spring 2020 saw the sudden shift of most children’s activities into the digital world. This offers opportunities and new possibilities, but also opens the door to well-known online risks such as inappropriate content, overuse, cyberbullying, cyber-hate, disinformation and misuse of personal data. This report provides a snapshot of how children across Europe perceived and experienced such risks during the COVID-19 spring lockdown in 11 countries, and the steps parents and children took to mitigate and cope with these risks. |
Available in English |
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This leaflet presents the European Labour Authority, a relatively new body of the European Union with a focus on cross-border labour mobility. Its aim is to support the fair mobility of workers within the EU, enabling citizens and businesses to seize the opportunities offered by the single market. |
Available in all the official languages of the EU |
Our news |
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Join Endorse: the EU Data Conference on Reference Data and Semantics
Knowledge sharing is the driving force of digital transformation, but it also represents a challenge. Endorse aims to provide a platform to discuss and shape the future of data management in public services by bringing together international experts in the fields of digitalisation, semantics, reference data and knowledge management. Join us to have your voice heard and be part of an active and forward-looking community! The event will take place online in four half-day sessions from 16 to 19 March 2021.
Registration is open. Book your place soon!
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