The European Commission aims to lower its ESG reporting requirements, recognizing the compliance costs it may imposed on firms and consumers.

The EU Commission unveiled the E-Commerce Toolbox, proposing Customs Union reform, removal of duty exemptions (<€150), stricter customs controls, and stronger consumer protections. By 2026, the Digital Fairness Act may offer restricting personalized ads, impacting both consumers and SMEs.

With the release of the Competitiveness Compass this week, the European Commission has once again committed to cutting red tape. The ambition is commendable, but for real impact, the EU needs to avoid usual siloed, incremental actions and draw from best practices from across Europe.

The EU is prioritizing reducing administrative burden on SMEs, led by Ursula von der Leyen and Valdis Dombrovskis. To succeed, the approach must become more streamlined, transparent, and inclusive, avoiding scattered efforts and ensuring broader public representation than before.

In this month’s EU Tech Loop wrap-up we dive into the EU's digital future: the EU Commission’s tech agenda, Digital Networks Act, Ukraine’s e-gov lessons, AI sandbox progress, BRICS digital sovereignty, EU red tape cuts, and EU-US tech ties.

[This is a repost of CCC Europe's letter to VP & Commissioner-designate for Technological sovereignty, security, and democracy Henna Virkkunen in anticipation of European Parliament hearings next week.]

Talk of red tape’s adverse effects on European tech is becoming popular in Brussels. EU's policymakers hailed former ECB Chief Mario Draghi’s report and subsequent comments on European lack of competitiveness in the tech sector.

With Commissioners-designate soon heading into European Parliament committee hearings and the entire College of Commissioners expected to be approved by early December, the EU tech industry—and consumers—are eagerly awaiting to see what comes next.

EU's September was rich in tech and telco debates: the proposed Commissioners were revealed, Draghi published his competitiveness proposals, the Commission's consultation results on digital infrastructure needs were released.

Between 2019 and 2024, the European Commission adopted a series of new regulations for the tech sector, including the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, the Artificial Intelligence Act, and many others.  These measures aim to shape the future of the digital landscape in Europe, but, naturally, they also

August was quiet for the EU tech policy bubble, but soon it'll be back to action with the Hungarian Presidency, a new European Commission, and controversial ideas revisited. Last month, we covered key discussions—from Musk vs. Breton to von der Leyen's future plans. Enjoy the read!