The mandate of the upcoming Commission

19/06/2024 - The EU is increasingly becoming an important factor in the regulatory landscape, especially regarding technology and innovation. In the last years, we’ve seen the rollout of regulations on privacy, online platforms, and data. And recently, the EU is focusing more on its geopolitical role, for example in relation to key technologies such as AI, data, photonics and semicon.

Over the next years, Brussels will again play a very important role in the tech and digital domain, for at least three reasons:

1. Implementation of existing regulations - Over the past years, the EU has introduced a range of new regulations focused on privacy, online platforms, and data, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Data Act, and the AI Act. The primary focus of the new Commission will be on the effective and efficient implementation of these regulations. Many industries are calling for a pause in the introduction of new rules to allow for the thorough implementation of the existing ones. It is crucial for companies be involved in how the details of these rules play out and collaborate with regulators.

2. New or overhaul of regulation - The EU is set to strengthen its regulatory influence over technology-driven markets and enhance its geopolitical role concerning technology. This includes addressing dependencies and enhancing resilience in critical tech sectors. The Commission is expected to focus on new or overhauled regulations, such as legislative reviews of the GDPR and consumer protection laws, and on the telecom framework. Privacy issues, intellectual property and data security will also be key areas of focus, particularly in the context of AI and other emerging technologies.

3. Launch of new initiatives aimed at addressing Europe's competitiveness gap, including protection of European businesses against China and, to a lesser extent, the US, and the promotion of the European tech industry. While AI presents economic opportunities, Europe lags in competitiveness, trailing behind the US. We expect the European Commission to seek input from businesses to bridge this gap, intervening more in technology, aiming to influence various industries through investment and regulation. Support for digital platforms, high-tech industries, fintech, and health-tech will be a focus, ensuring that European businesses can compete effectively on the global market.