COMECON MEDIA

The EBU welcomes the provisional agreement between EU legislators on the EU Trade Secrets Directive. The decision spells good news for freedom of the media thanks to the approval of a clear exemption for journalism in the Directive.  Read more

The European Commission put forward its EU Data Protection Reform in 2012 to make Europe fit for the digital age ( IP/12/46 ). Today, an agreement was found with the European Parliament and the Council, following final negotiations between the three institutions (so-called 'trilogue' meetings). More than 90% of Europeans say they want the same data protection rights across the EU – and regardless of where their data is processed: this will soon be a reality. The Reform package will put an end to the patchwork of data protection rules that currently exists in the EU. Andrus Ansip , Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: "Today's agreement is a major step towards a Digital Single Market. It will remove barriers and unlock opportunities. The digital future of Europe can only be built on trust. With solid common standards for data protection, people can be sure they are in control of their personal information. And they can enjoy all the services an

Link to release   LIBE Press release -  Fundamental rights  − 15-12-2015 - 21:11   A “strong compromise” on how to ensure a high level of data protection across the EU was agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators in their last round of talks on the data protection package on Tuesday. It is now up to member states to give a green light to the agreement. The two draft laws in the package - a regulation and a directive - are scheduled for a confirmation vote in the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday morning. The draft regulation aims to give citizens control over their private data, while also creating clarity and legal certainty for businesses to spur competition in the digital market. "Today's negotiations hopefully have cleared the way for a final agreement", said Parliament's lead MEP on the regulation Jan Philipp Albrecht (Greens, DE), adding that "In future, firms breaching EU data protection rules could be fined as much as 4% of annual turnover - for

  (15.12.2015)    On 15 December 2015, the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union reached an informal agreement in trialogues with the European Parliament on the 'Data Protection' Package which will set out new European rules on privacy in the digital age.   The agreement reached by the Luxembourg Presidency will have to be confirmed at the level of the Council of the EU by the 28 Member States, and will be addressed by a Coreper meeting to be held before 21 December 2015.   The 'Data Protection' Package, under negotiation since the European Commission put forward the proposal in January 2012, includes a Regulation establishing the general framework for the protection of personal data and a Directive on the protection of personal data processed for the purpose of law enforcement.   Following the adoption of general approach on the Regulation in the JHA Council of June 2015 and the adoption of a general approach on the Directive in the JHA Council o

  The Commission submitted the original proposal in November 2013 Download as pdf   15/12/2015   On 15 December 2015, the Luxembourg presidency reached a provisional agreement with European Parliament representatives on common rules for the  protection of trade secrets  and confidential information of EU companies. "Nowadays there is great diversity of systems and definitions in member states as regards the treatment and the protection of trade secrets. This new instrument will bring legal clarity and a level playing field to all European companies. It will also help increase their interest in the development of research and innovation activities.” -  Etienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Affairs of Luxembourg The agreement is subject to confirmation by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Council. Etienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Affairs of Luxembourg, congratulated the EU institutions for the

Link to release JURI Press release -  Citizens' rights  /  Competition  − 15-12-2015 - 16:34   New rules to help businesses obtain legal redress against the theft or misuse of their trade secrets were informally agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators on Tuesday. MEPs ensured that freedom of expression and information will be protected and that the new rules will not restrict the work of journalists. "The agreement reached today with the Council faithfully reflects the balanced position that we, MEPs on the legal affairs committee, adopted by a very large majority. Our priorities have been met in full by the Council: protection of the fundamental freedoms of opinion, of expression and of the press, which concerns both journalists and whistleblowers, and preservation of workers' mobility,” said the rapporteur, Constance Le Grip (EPP, FR). The rules will introduce an EU-wide definition of trade secrets and oblige member states to ensure that victims of the misuse of

IEU.MONITORING: EU DIGITAL AGENDA Telegram - published 1 December 2015 # E-GOVERNMENT Vice-President Ansip: Simple, secure and transparent online public services Speech by Vice-President Ansip, in charge of the Digital Single Market, at the eGovernment conference "Simple, secure and transparent public services" in Luxembourg EU Commission Roadmap: eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020  - CNECT - Communication (outside CWP) - Impact assessement planned : No  St 14663 2015 Init Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites. - Examination of the Presidency text  # DSM OASC: Creating the Metacity - Digital Agenda for Europe 54th meeting of COSAC – The national representatives discussed the strategy for a digital single market in Europe DG Connect: CoP 6th plenary meeting - New date confirmed! # DATA PROTECTION EU P

Link: IEU.MONITORING: EU DIGITAL AGENDA Telegram - published 26 November.. # TELECOM REGULATION Have your say on measures related to the end of roaming charges in the EU EU Commission: Public consultation on the review of national wholesale roaming markets, fair use policy and the sustainability mechanism referred to in the Roaming Regulation 531/2012 as amended by Regulation 2015/2120 EU Commission: Infographic: Roaming when travelling in the EU BEREC is ready to assist with the implementation of the new TSM rules CoP 6th plenary meeting - New date confirmed! German Court Decision: Google’s GMail is a Telecommunication Service – Telefónica Public Policy Blog Court of Justice of the European Union: Verein für Konsumenteninformation v A1 Telekom Austria AG # SPECTRUM EBU Broadcasters applaud WRC-15 decision securing future of free-to-air broadcasting # INTERNET GOVERNANCE Demo of the beta version of the GIPO tool UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on World S

Link:  IEU.MONITORING: EU DIGITAL AGENDA Telegram - published 25 November 2015 # CYBER SECURITY EU Commission - DG FISMA: In the spotlight - Cybersecurity # DSM EU Commission: Answer - European emergency number and digital single market - E-012975/2015 Digital Europe - VIDEO LIBRARY: Digital Single Market | MEP Michał BONI, European Parliament # INTERNET GOVERNANCE Just-in-time course on Internet governance 2016 - Geneva Internet Platform International Digital Economy and Society Index (I-DESI) – SMART 2015/0088 # DATA PROTECTION EU Parliament: Text adopted - Draft amending budget No 8/2015: Own resources and European Data Protection Supervisor - P8_TA-PROV(2015)0404 - Wednesday, 25 November 2015 - Strasbourg - Provisional edition Data protection policies shall become more comprehensible # INDUSTRY 4.0 Digital Europe CiPP workshop: “Cloud, Big Data, Internet of Things: How deep and fast are they changing Europe’s manufacturing industries? Are robots the onl

Link:  IEU.MONITORING: EU DIGITAL AGENDA Telegram - published 16 November 2015 :  # EU DATA FORUM Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Oettinger participate in the 2015 European Data Forum in Luxembourg Speech by Vice-President Ansip at the European Data Forum, Luxembourg: Free flow of data and developing the data economy Présidence de l’UE 2015 : European Data Forum 2015 – Pour Xavier Bettel, le marché unique numérique est "un domaine dans lequel l’Europe peut montrer qu’elle est capable de tenir ses promesses" Looking for Open Data from a different country? Try the European Data portal EP Workshop - Data saves lives - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Sweden relies on DCAT-AP metadata standard for improving its Open Data sources # DIGITAL COMPETITION Creation of ECTA  CEO Council: the pro-competitive voice for meeting the challenges of the digital world #NetCompetition: A new broadband stakeholder alliance takes-off in Brussels