Dear reader,
Welcome to Publyon’s EU Digital Policy Update. We are happy to provide you with insights on the latest EU policy trends and developments every month. The sun’s (finally) out, the mercury is rising outdoors, and what better way to kick off the summer than to swing and jive the year away with a bit of a musical update.
You got it right, this is the last edition before our summer break, where we will rock you through the digital priorities of the European political groups and our usual AI and cyber-related news. As we break (free) for the month of August, we will be back in September to start the year with a fresh mind.
The spotlight
They want it all: European political groups’ digital priorities
The European top jobs have been decided and only need the confirming votes from the European Parliament, while the committee chairmanships will be distributed and members appointed this week. You thought this meant rest? On the contrary, the European show must go on and the legislative activities will take up after the summer. We seized the occasion to take a look at how the different European actors wish to shape the future of EU digital policy. We have summarised the leaked version of the European political groups’ priorities for the next term for you, which address the big hit words of the moment, competitiveness, boosting investment, agriculture, migration and defence – but also, of course, some key digital priorities.
Like an adventure seeker on an empty street, Renew Europe came up with the most exhaustive set of digital priorities, as it calls for a European initiative to secure digital infrastructure against threats such as cyberattacks and disinformation. The group further aims to create a business-friendly environment, particularly for SMEs, through a uniform digital portal and advocate for a Single European License to facilitate business operations across all EU Member States, especially for tech companies. It is their way to push for a safe and competitive digital environment and their agenda further includes the development of AI, biotech, micro-processors, clean tech, and quantum technologies, alongside the correct implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA), and AI Act with strong protection of intellectual property. Along those lines, they also wish to propose legislation to address social media risks for youth.
Renew is followed by the European People’s Party (EPP), which emphasises the need for substantial investments in new technologies through initiatives like “Defence Tech 2.0”. They advocate for an EU action plan to combat cyberbullying and online child abuse, and propose an investment plan to create European jobs in clean and digital technologies. Additionally, they seek to establish a research institute for AI, similar to CERN, and aim to support SMEs by reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
Third come the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) seeking a new legislative framework to enhance a simplified and digital administration and boost entrepreneurship across the EU, with a focus on AI, quantum computing, and other advanced technologies. They aim to create an SME-friendly EU, allocate more funds for research and innovation, fight for digital freedom, ensure transparency on online platforms, and defend online anonymity while promoting a safer internet for children.
The other European groups are slightly less vocal about digital priorities, with the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) mainly prioritising a legislative proposal on AI in the workplace and focus on the development of SMEs to foster economic growth and innovation, while the Patriots for Europe are dedicated to enhancing competitiveness and innovation. The Greens/EFA, in turn, provide little specific details on their digital priorities, if it isn’t the pursuit of a green agenda that supports innovation and competitiveness.
Easy come, easy go
Whether the groups’ expectations for the next mandate are a little high or a little low, any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter, as long as your business knows how to sail it. If you wish to know how these priorities can be of use to your organisation’s public affairs strategies, reach out to our director Cathy Kremer at c.kremer@publyon.com.
Policy update
Crazy little thing called AI
It’s a kind of magic…the AI Act was officially published in the Official Journal of the EU on 12 July 2024 and will enter into force on 2 August 2024. This means that the general provisions tackling high-risk AI systems will apply starting 2 February 2025. Rules for general-purpose AI models, in turn, will be applicable from 2 August 2025 on and the AI codes of practice should be finalised by 2 May 2025. All in all, the entire AI Act should apply starting 2 August 2026, expect for the provisions on high-risk AI systems, applicable starting 2 August 2027. On that note, the AI Act might see its list of high-risk AI extended, to include AI-based cybersecurity and emergency services components in internet-connected devices.
Pushing down on the AI Office
We posted about it earlier this week on LinkedIn, but there seems to be some upheaval about how exactly different stakeholders will support the AI Office with the implementation of the AI Act and the drafting of additional rules. The AI Office was under pressure, as earlier this month, a group of MEPs, including co-rapporteur on the file Brando Benifei (S&D, Italy) and shadow rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP, Germany), co-signed an unpublished letter to call for the inclusion of civil society in the consultation process of the AI Office for the drafting of new AI-rules. For those of you who thought the AI saga was coming to an end, it seems we are only at the beginning… In the meantime, Euractiv revealed that the AI Office planned to give civil society organisations a consultation role for the drafting process…to be continued.
And while we are concerned with the AI Office, the AI Board also held its first meeting on 19 June, to introduce the Board’s mandate and discuss the basis of the AI Act’s implementation and national governance approaches.
What’s next?
Internationally, look out for the publication of the United Nations report on AI Governance, planned for the end of August, while institutionally we can expect the AI Scientific Panel to be launched by the end of the year. At Publyon level, we hope you’ll stay tuned for what we have in store for you after summer, to support EU businesses into becoming AI champions.
Don’t stop it now!
The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements, was previously green-lighted by the European Parliament on 12 March. It still needs to be formally adopted by the Council before it can enter into force, which is expected to happen sometime after the summer. Likewise, the Cyber Solidarity Act (CSA), which aims to strengthen EU capacities to detect, prepare for and respond to cyber threats across the EU, is also awaiting its turn for approval by the Council.
It’s strange but it’s true – we can’t get over the way the CRA and CSA were taken off the Hungarian Council Presidency’s priorities for the next six months. But don’t fret just yet – the Hungarians are keen to ensure the EU’s cyber regulatory framework stays up to code with a debate on the cyber crisis management process of the EU, especially with the upcoming review of the Cybersecurity Act. Moreover, they plan to conduct a horizontal discussion on the Commission’s 2017 recommendation for a coordinated response to large-scale cybersecurity incidents and crises. This discussion may just lay the groundwork for a future review, making sure our cyber defences don’t bite the dust.
Anybody find me somebody to – talk about EU policies
We’ve all felt it – being digital and tech EU policy specialists all day and misunderstood nerds outside of our beloved EU bubble overnight. The summer has descended upon Brussels at last, and networking events have come to a hold, meaning fellow policy nerds are getting scarce all around.
A perfect excuse to create new opportunities to discuss the Digital Policy Update and digital and tech news with our beloved readers. If you are interested in meeting the Killer Queens forming our digital and tech team, do not hesitate to reach out to us: Guillaume Baudour, Irene Veth and Emmanuelle Ledure. We’ll gladly discuss the upcoming legislative mandate or the Queen top 10 songs – up to you.
Emmanuelle Ledure
Hi, my name is Emmanuelle, and I am the bohemian behind this month’s rhapsody, bringing Brussels’ main digitalisation and technology insights to your inbox. I hope you enjoyed this edition of our update. We are always looking to provide our community with the most valuable content possible, and that starts with you. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see covered in our next edition, do not hesitate to reach out to me.
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