New legislative proposals on the way from Brussels

EU
The European Commission has published its work programme for 2021, outlining the areas of focus for the coming year and the proposals it plans to put forward. The focus areas described are: sustainability, digitalization, social issues, international relations, promoting our European way of life and democracy.

The annexes to the program list the initiatives and proposals that will be presented during the year. Here, I think it is worth noting in particular that there will be proposals for legislation on:
- data sharing (a so-called Data Act)
- a new European e-identity
- a digital tax (unless the EU manages to get support for an international agreement)
- working conditions for platform employees
- electronic products (design requirements and consumer protection rules)

In addition, as we have previously reported, the Commission will present the Digital Services Act (DSA) this fall. According to what we have learned, it will be presented on December 2 and will include proposals on rules for digital services (an update of the e-commerce directive) and proposals for new competition rules (ex-ante regulation of certain major players). In addition, work continues in Brussels in the field of AI.

So - for those who have hesitated and wondered whether there are reasons for Swedish companies and a Swedish trade association to continue to monitor what is happening in Brussels, the answer is unequivocally "yes".

For those who want to read more about the program and when in time the various proposals are planned to be presented, they are available here:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/2021-commission-work-programme-key-documents_en

The IT&Telecom companies' consultation response to the DSA is available here:
https://techsverige.se/2020/09/ittelekomforetagen-svarar-pa-eu-kommissionens-samrad-om-digital-services-act-dsa/

My Bergdahl
Business policy expert and legal counsel, IT&Telecom companies