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AIG Newsletter 2 December 2024

Advertising Information Group-Newsletter

Lesedauer: 4 Minuten

NEWS
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News

In this week's edition: The EP finally approves the new College of Commissioners (2024-2029). IMCO discusses the fitness check on EU consumer law, while the EU Board for Digital Services convenes its ninth meeting. LIBE receives an update on GDPR enforcement rules. The EU Court of Auditors releases its report on food labelling practices, revealing concerns about labelling and enforcement. The Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council debates cultural diversity in digital markets, and a survey suggests EU tech regulation may be impacting sector growth.

EP APPROVES THE 2024-2029 COMMISSIONERS

On 27 November, MEPs voted to approve the new College of Commissioners with 370 votes in favour, 282 against and 36 abstentions, following a debate with Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen. von der Leyen emphasised the need to close the innovation gap and advance competitiveness and Green Deal strategies. Several initiatives were announced for example a Competitiveness Compass. At the same time the importance of start-ups and frontier technologies were emphasised. The parliamentary debate revealed significant divisions, with support primarily coming from EPP, most S&D speakers, Renew Europe, and portions of ECR and the Greens. The new Commission is set to begin its duties on 1 December, following formal appointment by the Council.

IMCO DISCUSSES DIGITAL FAIRNESS

On 18 November, MEPs and the EC discussed the report on EU consumer law's digital fairness. DG JUST director for consumers, Isabelle Perignon, presented the findings on issues including dark patterns, addictive design, and unfair personalisation. The evaluation examined three key directives - the UCPD, Consumer Rights Directive and the UCTD - alongside the EU digital rulebook. Whilst the report confirmed the relevance of EU consumer law in the digital single market, it highlighted that objectives were only partially met due to ineffective enforcement and legal uncertainty, prompting MEPs to voice concerns about online protection for minors and call for stronger enforcement of existing regulations rather than creating new ones. A public consultation and impact assessment are expected to be launched next year.

9TH MEETING OF THE EU BOARD FOR DIGITAL SERVICES TAKES PLACE

The EU Board for Digital Services held its ninth meeting on 19 November, hosted by DG CONNECT. It featured a speech from Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Grant and discussions about the https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/dsa-dscs designation and empowerment, alongside ongoing activities and investigations. The EC updated attendees on their enforcement activities, including transparency reporting, age verification, and efforts to convert both the Code of Conduct on Hate Speech and the Code of Practice on Disinformation. The next meeting is scheduled for 12 December.

LIBE DIGESTS FIRST TRILOGUE RESULTS ON ADDITIONAL GDPR RULES

On 21 November, MEP Marketa Gregorova provided the LIBE Committee with an oral report on negotiations concerning the Regulation on additional procedural rules for GDPR enforcement, following the first trilogue on 4 November. She highlighted that whilst the GDPR has been crucial for data protection, challenges persist in managing cross-border cases involving tech giants, and outlined Parliament's position from April 2024, which included GDPR primacy over national laws, a common case file system, stricter deadlines, and provisions for judicial remedies and amicable settlements. Gregorova noted the Council and Commission's constructive approach and detailed upcoming technical meetings and a second trilogue in December, suggesting negotiations would likely conclude during the Polish Presidency in early 2025.

EU COURT OF AUDITORS PUBLISHES FOOD LABELLING REPORT

The EU Court of Auditors (ECA) has published a report highlighting significant concerns with EU food labelling practices, revealing that legislative gaps enable misleading labels and insufficient penalties fail to prevent misuse. The report emphasises that consumers face confusion from an overwhelming amount of claims, logos, and scores, with particular issues identified such as the promotion of high-sugar products as protein-rich. Furthermore, the situation is complicated by voluntary labels using terms like "natural" and "fresh", alongside greenwashing claims and fragmented front-of-pack nutrition systems across EU countries, with the report noting that food companies exploit weak enforcement mechanisms, particularly regarding voluntary information where checks are minimal or non-existent.

EYCS DEBATES PROMOTING DIGITAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY

On 26 November, the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council convened to discuss concerns regarding interpretations of the e-Commerce Directive and its impact on cultural sovereignty. Whilst Germany and Italy strongly supported measures to protect cultural diversity and media pluralism, Luxembourg and Ireland emphasised the importance of maintaining the country-of-origin principle as a cornerstone of the single market. The EC acknowledged the need to balance digital market integration with cultural diversity and noted that any future evaluation of AVMSD would specifically assess its effectiveness in promoting EU content and cultural diversity.

TECH LANDSCAPE SURVEY SHOWS EU RED TAPE HAMPERS GROWTH

A recent survey revealed that 60% of industry leaders and investors view the GDPR negatively, whilst 53% criticised the AI Act's impact on the start-up environment. These findings align with former Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi's assessment that the EU's complex regulatory landscape, comprising roughly 100 tech-focused laws, is hampering innovation and preventing EU firms from competing effectively with the US and China. This regulatory burden is particularly evident in the stark funding disparity, with EU AI companies raising just $11 billion compared to their US counterparts' $47 billion.