How will the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation affect your business?

Written by Emma Vivian on 09 Feb 2023

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation will establish rules on the production of goods that are sold in the EU market. These rules will cover the entire life cycle of a product, from its design to its recycling. Companies which build tech devices and online platforms which sell those devices to consumers will have new obligations.

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Short-term rental regulation could lead to fragmentation and legal uncertainty for platforms

Written by Gabriel Kobus on 31 Jan 2023

Sweden assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 January and presented its policy programme on Tuesday 17 January to the European Parliament. The programme focuses on competitiveness, security, rule of law and sustainability. In this article, we examine the digital and sustainable priorities outlined in the programme. The Swedish Presidency is expected to drive progress in areas such as cyber security, data sharing, digital identity, and sustainability.

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The Swedish Presidency’s Programme – for a greener, safer, freer Europe

Written by Gabriel Kobus on 20 Jan 2023

Sweden assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 January and presented its policy programme on Tuesday 17 January to the European Parliament. The programme focuses on competitiveness, security, rule of law and sustainability. In this article, we examine the digital and sustainable priorities outlined in the programme. The Swedish Presidency is expected to drive progress in areas such as cyber security, data sharing, digital identity, and sustainability.

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Regulating the data economy (Part II): how will the Data Act regulate government access to data?

Written by Angeliki Tsanta on 03 Feb 2022

As explained in our previous blog, the European Commission is working on a legislative proposal to ensure European businesses, consumers and governments fully benefit from the free flow of data and are empowered to make better-informed decisions. This initiative, known as the Data Act, will not only regulate data sharing among companies (business-to-business, B2B), but will also specify in which cases and under which conditions companies must share data with governments (business-to-government, B2G). This blog analyses the EU’s plans for the B2G data sharing and identifies outstanding issues for businesses.

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Regulating data sharing (Part I) – How will the EU Data Act impact your business?

Written by Fabio Barbero on 27 Jan 2022

In 2025, the value of the data economy in the European Union will be comparable to the GDP of the Netherlands. The actual impact that data will have on European economies and societies, however, will depend as much on technological advancements as on the rules that will govern data use and data sharing. In February 2022, the European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for a Regulation to facilitate data sharing and use between companies (business-to-business, or B2B) and between businesses and governments (business-to-government, or B2G). Known as the Data Act, this long-awaited initiative will have far-reaching impacts on companies, the public sector, and consumers. In this two-part series, we look at what issues the Data Act should address to harness the value of data while ensuring innovation, property rights, and privacy. This blog focuses on business-to-business data-sharing.

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EU-US Trade and Technology Council: new global tech superpower or just another talking shop?

Written by Shane Cumberton on 03 Dec 2021

The recently launched EU-US Trade and Technology Council is a landmark partnership that seeks to advance transatlantic cooperation in trade, economics, and technology. This blog discusses the importance of the partnership and what it plans to achieve, as well as the main policy areas that the Council will explore.

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Regulating short-term rentals: the case for an EU-level intervention

Written by Angeliki Tsanta on 17 Nov 2021

The European Commission is planning to regulate short-term rental services across the EU to address existing market imbalances, legal uncertainty, and fragmentation. This blog investigates the policy options and considers their impact on the competing interests of European cities, professional and non-professional (peer) short-term rental providers and online platforms.

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Reviewing cyber resilience: how will the NIS 2 Directive impact EU businesses?

Written by Fabio Barbero on 21 Jul 2021

Our work, education, social interactions, and leisure time take place online more than ever before. Every day enough people to populate a city the size of Frankfurt join the World Wide Web, bringing digital technologies to new users. COVID-19 has increased reliance on technologies such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Netflix and e-commerce platforms.

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What will business taxation look like in 2030?

Written by Mathilde Quembre on 07 Jun 2021

The European Commission’s ambitious new Communication on Business Taxation for the 21st century outlines its strategy on tax policy and gives an overview of the initiatives to watch out for. It aims to achieve an efficient, fair, and sustainable tax framework and focuses on changes due to digitalization. How will EU policymakers shape tomorrow’s business environment? What are the stakes for the private sector? In this blog, we explore the future of business taxation and the major changes to expect.

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The Commission's 2030 Digital Compass: can it deliver and secure a future for Europe in the global digital economy?

Written by Aymeric Leruste on 19 May 2021

In March, the European Commission presented its strategy for a digital transformation of Europe: the 2030 Digital Compass. Recognising that the pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of Europe’s digital space and its dependence on non-European technologies, the Compass defines some bold objectives to strengthen the European digital economy. However, there are many challenges to overcome. 

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UK and EU race towards regulating digital markets: who is winning?

Written by Alessandra Venier on 24 Feb 2021

This month, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) updated its ambitious Digital Markets Strategy. The 2019 strategy was originally meant to address the growth of digital markets and its effect on consumers and competition. The recent update reflects the work that the CMA has done since it first published the strategy - including its all-important recommendations for a pro-competition regime for digital markets - and comes as debates around digital competition continue to gather pace in the UK and beyond.

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What to expect from Europe’s new regulations on digital services

Written by Giulia Iop on 07 Dec 2020

The European Commission will shortly unveil new rules on digital services as part of its agenda for shaping Europe’s digital future. In this blog we will explore what we expect to see in the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) and how they will impact the tech industry.

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What does the New Consumer Agenda mean for the tech sector?

Written by Owain Richards on 03 Dec 2020

The European Commission’s recently adopted New Consumer Agenda frames its objectives for EU consumer policy up to 2025. In this blog we outline what it means for the tech and digital sectors, and what consumer policy initiatives we can expect.

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Nine European policy initiatives for the tech sector in December 2020

Written by Angeliki Tsanta on 02 Dec 2020

The European Commission will launch several ambitious policy and legislative initiatives in December 2020, to deliver on its political priorities for this legislative term. In this briefing, we outline nine initiatives that will affect the tech sector.

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Understanding the EU technical regulation notification procedure

Written by Owain Richards on 20 May 2020

Strengthening and deepening the Single Market is a key strategic priority for the 2019-24 European legislative cycle. Following the publication of the European Commission’s Single Market Enforcement Action Plan in March 2020, we look at the role and importance of the EU Single Market Transparency Directive in addressing market barriers, promoting the growth of the single market, and supporting a more harmonised regulatory environment for businesses.

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The politicisation of technology regulation: four drivers that will shape 2020

Written by Olaf Cramme on 16 Jan 2020

As Europe begins the year in a state of relative stability with the EU Commission firmly in place as well as new governments in the UK and Spain, all eyes are on how policymakers will now respond to popular demand for changes to our liberal order. The tech sector could be in for a rough ride.

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Tech regulation: will the UK go it alone after Brexit?

Written by Olaf Cramme on 02 Dec 2019

Once the political decision about Brexit is settled, the focus will move swiftly to the precise nature of the new relationship between the UK and the EU. The question of regulatory alignment or divergence will then take centre stage - with an uncertain outcome and potentially far-reaching implications for the tech sector.

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