IT&Telecom companies keep an eye on the EU

IT&Telecom companies are working for a more industry-oriented EU. For us, it is about ensuring that Swedish companies' innovative power and business opportunities are strengthened and developed.

The new European Commission, which took office last December, has now started to deliver proposals. The Commission, led by the German Ursula von der Leyen, has announced that they will develop a number of initiatives that are of relevance to the industry and that we will therefore keep an eye on in the future. These include a White Paper[1] on the human and ethical consequences of AI and a legislative proposal called the Digital Service Act, which is expected to include rules on intermediary liability.

For the IT&Telecom companies, it is of course important that any new regulations from the EU are based as far as possible on an understanding of Swedish conditions and the opportunities and innovative strength of Swedish companies. We will therefore follow developments closely and try to influence the negotiations within the framework of Almega and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise on relevant issues.

E-privacy - privacy, confidentiality and failed negotiations

It remains to be seen what will happen in the stalled e-privacy negotiations on privacy and confidentiality of electronic communications. The commissioner in charge, Frenchman Thierry Breton, said at the December telecoms summit that the Commission would probably withdraw the proposal and come back with a new one because opposition to it was so strong. However, Mr. Breton has since said that this statement was premature and wants to come back to the issue.

If you want to know more about what the European Commission is planning to do in 2020, take a look at the work program, which will be published on 29 January. Click here to read the European Commission Work Program 2020.

Brexit - a never ending story!

On top of all the legislative proposals to be presented and the ongoing negotiations to be handled throughout the year, the EU and Brussels will still need to put a lot of effort into managing Brexit. The UK will leave the EU on January 31. This will trigger the so-called transition period, which will last until January 1, 2021, by which time the parties must have agreed on the future relationship.

In summary, the EU will continue to come up with initiatives that have an impact on the conditions for Swedish companies as well. IT&Telecom companies will therefore follow developments closely.

[1] A White Paper is a policy document containing concrete action plans