Finnish Government sets out its policy priorities for the EU over the next six months

Written by Owain Richards on 02 Jul 2019

The Finnish Government's work programme for its Presidency of the Council of the EU includes important positions on EU technology policy, platform regulation, the digital economy, Mobility-as-a-Service and digital taxation. Our briefing document outlines the implications for the tech sector.

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Europe's big tech tax: the latest proposals for a digital services tax

Written by Inline Policy on 11 Dec 2018

The EU’s Member States have failed to agree on the introduction of a tax on revenues from digital services. But pressure from the European Commission, European Parliament and EU citizens indicate that this is not an issue that is going to disappear any time soon.

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Political pressure builds for reform of EU competition policy

Written by Rory Coutts on 14 Nov 2018

Governments and regulators are actively considering how competition policy should respond to the growth of the digital economy. A forthcoming report from the European Parliament provides an insight into the state of the debate in Brussels.

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The patchwork of digital tax proposals in Europe

Written by David Abrahams on 09 Nov 2018

While discussions continue on the European Commission’s proposals for a harmonised Digital Services Tax, a number of different approaches to taxing online service providers and platforms is emerging across Europe.  With the UK the latest EU country to consider going it alone, we look at who is proposing what when it comes to digital services taxes.

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Brexit in Perspective

Written by Conor Brennan on 08 Oct 2018

Our ‘Brexit in Perspective’ infographic puts the UK’s decision to leave the EU in its broader context of European economic integration and maps the economic implications of the numerous political decisions available to the UK.

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UK kicks off review of competition in digital markets

Written by David Abrahams on 20 Sep 2018

The UK Government has engaged a panel to review competition in digital markets, and one of the key themes is the concentration of 'big tech'. With the panel tasked with consulting industry and reporting by early 2019, companies seeking to influence the panel's thinking need to get started as soon as possible.

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What are the EU institutions doing to lead on Distributed Ledger Technology?

Written by Inline Policy on 06 Sep 2018

As Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) comes under increased scrutiny by European policymakers, Inline has created a guide to key developments on monitoring, research, infrastructure, and standards impacting the industry.

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The top 5 most important European Parliamentary questions for the tech sector this year

Written by Rory Coutts on 10 Jul 2018

MEPs ask thousands of questions to the European Commission each year and during the 2009-2014 term of the European Parliament, over 10,000 questions were tabled. At Inline, our job is to cut through the noise, so here are the five most important questions for the tech sector in 2018.

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Digital agenda vs populist revolt: which call will Austria answer?

Written by Inline Policy on 05 Jun 2018

The world’s youngest leader, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, will take the helm of the Council of the EU in July and the headlines will be dominated by his plans to toughen EU immigration policy. Behind the scenes Austria’s Digital Minister, Margarete Schramböck, will be pushing ahead towards agreement on the Commission’s package of proposals in the digital sector.

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EU Digital Single Market Strategy – Has Brussels gone from friend to foe of the tech sector?

Written by Shomik Panda on 22 May 2018

As Mark Zuckerberg takes his seat to answer questions for the first time in the European Parliament, it is a good time to take stock of the EU's Digital Single Market Strategy, assess its successes, and consider the new regulations and policy proposals coming from the European Commission.

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Finding the path to ethical artificial intelligence?

Written by Olaf Cramme on 16 Apr 2018

Another day, another report on artificial intelligence? Not quite. 

Published today, the 180-page volume by the House of Lords’ Select Committee is more than just the latest contribution to the emerging debate about the opportunities and challenges of AI. Led by experienced lawyers such as Baron Clement-Jones and renowned scholars like Lord Anthony Giddens, former director of the London School of Economics, it might well prove influential both in the UK and beyond.

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Taxing times ahead for 'big tech'?

Written by Matthew Niblett on 03 Apr 2018

Are large online businesses paying their fair share of tax? This was the question debated on Tuesday 27 March by MPs in Westminster Hall, the small debating chamber in Parliament. 

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New Regulations Ahead: London’s Transport Committee Report on Future Transport

Written by Matthew Niblett on 13 Feb 2018

The London Assembly’s Transport Committee has today published ‘Future transport - How is London responding to technological innovation?

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What the UK Government's announcements mean for the Gig Economy

Written by Inline Policy on 08 Feb 2018

The UK Government has published its long-awaited response to the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices.

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Dockless Bike-Sharing: the next regulatory quagmire

Written by Conor Brennan on 15 Aug 2017

This summer, Londoners will have noticed the addition of new bicycles parked in various locations across Britain’s capital. Closer inspection of these bikes reveals that they are ‘oBikes’ - a bicycle which you can unlock with an app on your phone and use at very little cost, without the need to park at docking stations. 

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Does the global aviation emissions agreement sustain the momentum of the Paris agreement? Or does it detract from it?

Written by Inline Policy on 20 Oct 2016

On 6 October, a new acronym was introduced to the world of aviation and climate change. CORSIA – the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation – is the outcome of what many in the aviation industry have described as an “historic agreement” to tackle the burgeoning problem of aviation emissions.

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eSports gambling – regulators take a closer look

Written by Inline Policy on 24 Aug 2016

The prospect of video gamers becoming paid professionals, and people placing bets on the outcome of contests, would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago.

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Membership vs access: Why words have meaning for the future of UK financial services and the Single Market

Written by Inline Policy on 26 Jul 2016

Some of the UK political instability following the EU Referendum in June is beginning to dissipate. A new Prime Minister, reshuffled Ministerial teams, and reshaped Government machinery are in place. A timetable of sorts for the next steps is beginning to form, ie. no triggering of Article 50 to commence the departure negotiations, during this calendar year, but likely early in 2017. What is still concealed in opacity is any inkling of what the UK position might be in the parallel discussions on a future economic and co-operative relationship with the EU. 

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What would Brexit mean for the investment climate in the financial sector?

Written by Inline Policy on 13 May 2016

With just six weeks left to go, the battle over the UK’s continued membership of the European Union is rising in volume and intensity. A key issue for investors in UK-traded financial services products and markets is undoubtedly what effects the decision made on June 23 will have on the climate for purchasing or retaining bonds, equities or other assets linked to either the performance of sterling or the stock market. Ultimately these are reflections on the underlying health of the UK economy itself, and the likely economic temperature if the UK stays within or leaves the Single Market, both in the short term and medium-to-long term.

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Short-term tourist accommodation - 10 points for inclusion in the European Commission’s sharing economy guidelines

Written by Shomik Panda on 21 Apr 2016

The European Commission will soon publish a set of best practice guidelines for the regulation of the sharing economy. The purpose is to support the growth of this emerging sector and also to address any regulatory imbalances that have emerged across Europe in the context of the single market. The guidance will also outline how existing EU regulations should be applied to the sharing economy and consider international best practice. While there are many silos to the sharing economy that will need separate investigation, this article focuses on a key, growing sector – short-term accommodation rentals – and identifies a set of principles that the Commission should consider including in its guidelines.

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