Archive

Commission

  • Buckle up for 2022: the year of connected mobility

    February 8, 2022

    The EU digital policy took center stage last year with the Data Governance Act, Artificial Intelligence Act and the revision of Network and Information Security Directive on the top of political agenda. This year however, EU policymakers will prepare the ground for true connected mobility. Halfway through its political mandate, the European Commission is set to deliver on its strategies for Data and Sustainable and Smart Mobility presented in 2020. We expect to see major...

  • 2022 is set to be another big year for EU Digital Policy

    January 27, 2022

    2021 saw digital policy take centre stage in Europe with significant progress on the negotiations on the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Governance Act, as well as on the Digital Finance Package, not to forget the introduction of the AI Act. Expect more of the same in 2022. With the European Commission now in full legacy-setting mode, 2022 will be another packed year for European tech actors across all sectors of the economy, with further major initiatives such as the...

  • The EU’s Digital Services Package: An Attempt to Reshape the Digital Platform Economy

    February 16, 2021

    After several years of intense debates, the European Commission recently released its legislative overhaul of the EU digital rulebook. This includes the two flagship initiatives on content moderation and competition in the digital economy. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) will have far-reaching consequences on digital markets and online platforms. The question remains how far. The EU’s approach includes some of the most stringent legislative changes ever seen since the adoption...

  • Paving way to a Circular Economy

    March 12, 2020

    On 11 March the Commission published it New Circular Economy Action Plan which will facilitate the EU’s transition to a circular economy, to achieve the 2050 net-zero emissions target. According to Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, the Plan has the goal to strengthen the competitiveness of EU industry, empower consumers and protect the environment. By introducing a sustainable products policy framework, it will be easier for consumers to identify sustainable and circular options on...

  • European Green Deal: Anticipating the two years ahead

    December 13, 2019

    It is not exaggeration to suggest that the Green Deal is the farthest reaching environmental policy initiative ever undertaken by the European Commission. The integration of sustainability into every pillar of the EU’s activities, from industrial strategy to development aid, is what many have advocated for years. The question now is whether the Commission can follow through on its ambitious work programme, and how well will its unified vision survive the inevitable bruises of co-decision...

  • What are the priorities of the new European Commission?

    December 4, 2019

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdsZV3YESZ8 Today, Ursula von der Leyen chaired the first meeting of the new College of Commissioners. Her team of 26 new Executive Vice-Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Commissioners are ready to deliver on her promises for a Union that strives for more. Her first few days in office are already marked by strong European ambitions on climate policy. Von der Leyen’s first trip as Commission President was to the COP25 meeting in Madrid on Monday. Her first...

  • Circular Economy to Dominate the Agenda for the Next Five Years

    October 24, 2019

    Newly-elected Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has committed to promoting a circular economy in her agenda for Europe, stating that the main priority area is high-impact sectors such as the textiles and construction industries. For some, the announcement seems standardised and vague, perhaps even just a precaution to ensure her confirmation as European Commission President. In reality, the statement is significant when combined with the fact that circular economy proponent, Frans Timmermans, is likely...

  • ‘Big Phil’ Is Back – What to Expect from the Hearing of the Incoming Trade Commissioner

    September 26, 2019

    https://vimeo.com/362508662 While most of the legislative machinery in Brussels slowly ground to a halt after the European Parliament elections in May this year, trade has continued at an unabated, albeit rocky pace. Phil Hogan is a returning member of the College that served as the Agriculture Commissioner under Jean-Claude Juncker. Having previously seen off hardened negotiators from Japan and Mercosur to strike trade agreements of unprecedented magnitude, how will he hold up during his hearing...

  • EnergiseEurope: How can we make carbon pricing work for decarbonisation

    June 27, 2019

    By Zoe Choulika and Eleanor Batilliet, Research Executives at FleishmanHillard Brussels.  On 22 May, FleishmanHillard Brussels held an EnergiseEurope roundtable on “How can we make carbon pricing work for decarbonisation” which addressed different options to accelerate the EU’s emission reduction efforts through carbon pricing. Overall, members of the panel representing the EU industry, think tanks and the European Commission agreed that the EU Emission Trading System is an undeniably effective tool to decarbonise the economy...

  • What will be the upcoming EU priorities for the next Commission mandate?

    May 22, 2019

    The European elections are upon us. Everyone’s attention is on the potential composition of one of the EU’s key institutions - the European Parliament. But here at FleishmanHillard we have also been looking beyond the elections, to see what the top priorities for the EU could be, and which key figures will be guiding them. Watch also: Niamh Griffin's video 'What will be the key trends for the European Elections?' In this video, Stéphanie Brochard and...