Highlights from the Past Week
CW 23 / Monday, 6 to Thursday, 9 June: Plenary Sessions Week (Strasbourg);
DIGITAL SERVICES ACT – VOTE IN PLANNING: After weeks of bilateral negotiations between the French Council Presidency and the Parliament’s rapporteur, Christel Schaldemose (S&D), the consolidated version of the DSA text (PDF) became public on Friday 10 June.
The Council added a half-sentence to Recital 28 on the issue of the “stay down” obligation, an aspect which also recently came under criticism from eco. The reference to gambling in Recital 29, which has been rejected by a portion of the Parliament, has been retained.
In viewing the agendas for the IMCO Committee on 16 June and for the plenary session in July (PDF), it looks as though the DSA is ready to be voted upon. COREPER could confirm the text as early as 15 June.
However, criticism from the Parliament has been mounting in recent days. According to media reports, the EPP, Renew, the Greens and the Left have sharply criticised the amendments. (see Politico Pro, paywall)
COMMON CHARGERS – TRILOGUE SUCCESSFULLY AGREED UPON: The common USB-C charger for small and medium electronic devices (smartphones, cameras, headphones, laptops, e-readers, navigation systems, keyboards and mice) will soon become a reality following the inter-institutional agreement reached on Tuesday. Official adoption is expected in September or October at the latest, and it will start to apply two years later, in 2024. For laptops, there will still be a transition period of 40 months after the entry into force.
The list of devices will be updated after three years and reviewed every five years thereafter. The charging speed for fast charging cables has also been harmonised. Consumers will have the option to buy the device with or without a charger and the Commission will consider in four years whether such anti-bundling measures should be made mandatory. Standardisation organisations will receive requests to develop a technical standard for wireless charging technology, which could then be adopted as mandatory for the Single Market. (see Euractiv, EP press release)
E-EVIDENCE – FRANCE HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR A POSSIBLE AGREEMENT: Since mid-May, negotiators have met four times at technical level for talks. The next round for the political trilogue on the e-Evidence Regulation is scheduled for 14 June. In the instance of a possible agreement, another round could take place under the French Presidency. This was stated by Justice Minister Dupond-Moretti at the Council of Justice Ministers on 9 June.
On the central point of the notification system, major differences still exist, he stated. He said the Council was asking the Parliament to take a step towards exempting purely national cases from the notification requirement, as the link to the country of notification was often very artificially generated.
The differences of opinion are far-reaching, he said, but even the Parliament itself does not rule out the conclusion. (video)
CZECH PRESIDENCY – PRIORITIES BECOME KNOWN: The Czech Republic will take over the rotating EU Presidency from 1 July until the end of the year.
According to a draft internal document, the following five topics will be high on the political agenda of the upcoming presidency:
Ukraine, energy security, defence and cybersecurity, economic and democratic resilience.
The Czech Republic has signed up to a trio presidency programme with the outgoing French Presidency and the following Swedish Presidency. However, Russia’s aggression on Ukraine initiated in February meant Prague had to adopt its political priorities. (see Euractiv)
EIDAS – INDUSTRY COMMITTEE PRESENTS DRAFT REPORT: In the ITRE Committee of the EU Parliament, Romana Jerković (S&D) presented her draft report on the eIDAS Regulation (PDF).
The biggest change in the draft appears to relate to the chapter on the so-called “European Digital Identity Board”. The tasks of the board will include assisting the Commission in the preparation of legislative initiatives in the field of digital identities, exchanging best practices, enforcing regulation in the area of digital identities, and monitoring the market.
The draft proposes various changes to increase the security of wallets, e.g. through a “transaction history” for the wallet apps. Furthermore, identity data should only be stored in the cloud if users explicitly agree to this. Data ought to be encrypted and stored locally on the secure element of the smartphone. Biometric identification procedures should be a prerequisite for the use of wallets.
Data portability should enable users to switch between wallets. In addition, the providers must implement a backup function with which the data can be restored if necessary. (see Tagesspiegel Background, paywall – DE)
EUROPEAN MEDIA FREEDOM ACT – PROVISIONALLY POSTPONED: The initiative was actually scheduled for 29 June on the Commission’s agenda (with the note “to be confirmed”). But it is unlikely to be ready in time. The initiative, which aims to protect the media from politically motivated mergers and to organise media regulators in a real European network, should be expected in the course of September. (see Contexte, paywall, FR)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – WORK PROGRAMME IN THE EP: After the thousands of amendments to the AI Act, the first nine technical meetings are scheduled for MEPs from 11 July to 14 October (see Kai Zenner via Twitter). The secretariats of IMCO and the LIBE Committee are currently still busy compiling the amendments.
The Industry Committee will already vote on the opinion on 14 June. Among other factors, the committee has exclusive competence on cybersecurity issues.
CSAM I – GERMANY’S CRITICISM CONTINUES: The EU Commission’s proposal for a regulation on combatting online child abuse content has met with explicit opposition in Germany from Digital Minister Volker Wissing (FDP). At the Berlin digital conference Republica, Wissing emphasised that, while the Commission has recognised the problem and is taking action, the draft goes too far: “The proposed measures threaten to compromise fundamental rights and digital citizens’ rights […]”, Wissing said. He expressed “considerable doubts” about the suitability of the proposed measures to achieve the goal of protecting children.
The present regulation “crosses a line”, Wissing said, adding that he would “resolutely oppose unconditional chat controls and do everything possible to ensure that this does not happen”. In his view, the most important thing to do at the moment is to have such content taken down and to provide the investigating authorities with better technical and personnel resources. (video)
CSAM II – NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS CALL FOR RETRACTION: The Commission’s draft regulation on combatting online child sexual abuse “will set a dangerous precedent for mass surveillance around the world”, states a letter (PDF) addressed to the European Commission. A total of 85 non-governmental organisations have signed this letter, including EDRi, Access Now, the European Federation of Journalists, the Austrian Bar Association and Wikimedia. They write that the draft regulation violates EU fundamental rights and risks the undermining of privacy, security and freedom of expression.
BEREC – EU COMMISSION INCLUDES UKRAINE: The European Commission last week adopted a decision authorising the national regulatory authority in Ukraine responsible for electronic communications to participate in the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the BEREC Office, which is the agency supporting BEREC.
The decision specifies the working arrangements: Ukraine’s regulatory authority will take part in the day-to-day work of BEREC’s Board of Regulators, without the right to vote, while at the same time Ukraine may appoint experts to join in BEREC’s working groups, including in the areas of roaming, market regulation, and overall digital regulation. (see COM press release)
Relevant Publications, including from the EP Think Tank:
- Plenary round-up – June I 2022 (At a Glance)
- Combating hate speech and hate crime in the EU (At a Glance)
- European declaration on digital rights and principles (Briefing)
Outlook for the Current Week
You can find a list of the upcoming dates of the European Parliament here. The meeting calendar for 2022 can be found here (PDF).
An overview of the most important dates of the Council week can be found here, the meeting calendar can be accessed here, and the list of the main topics for the coming fortnight is available here.
Included among these dates are:
Summits and Ministerial Meetings:
- Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), Sunday, 12 to Wednesday, 15 June – Agenda;
- Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Monday, 13 June – Agenda, A Items;
- Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), Tuesday, 14 June – Agenda;
- Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Social) (incl. Platform Work), Thursday, 16 June – Agenda;
- Economic and Financial Affairs Council (incl. Global Minimum Tax), Friday, 17 June – Agenda, A Items;
Preparatory Bodies:
- Working Party on Competition, Monday, 13 June;
- Working Party on Consumer Protection and Information, Tuesday, 14 June;
- Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues, Tuesday, 14. June;
- Working Party on Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN), Thursday, 16 June;
- Working Party on Hybrid Threats, Thursday, 16 June;
- Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Industry), Thursday, 16 and Friday, 17 June;
- COREPER I, Wednesday, 15 June;
- COREPER II, Wednesday, 15 June;
Information on the weekly Commission Meeting can be found in the preview (PDF) or (at short notice) in the current agenda.
The following topic is on the agenda for the coming week:
- Communication on the follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe
You can find the judicial calendar of the ECJ here.
European Parliament Committees
CW 24 / Monday, 13 to Thursday, 16 June: Committee Meetings Week (Brussels);
LIBE Committee (EP)
Current Meetings
- Wednesday, 15 June 2022, 9.00-12.30 and 14.30-18.30 (Brussels)
- Thursday, 16 June 2022, 9.00-12.30 and 14.30-17.30 (Brussels)
Excerpt from the Draft Agenda
…
16 June 2022, 16.00 – 17.30
- Exchange of views with the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, in the framework of the Structured Dialogue
…
Further Meetings (Calendar)
- Monday, 27 June 2022, 14.30-18.30 (Brussels)
JURI Committee (EP)
Current Meetings
- Monday, 13 June 2022 (Brussels)
- Tuesday, 14 June 2022 (Brussels)
Excerpt from the Draft Agenda
From eco’s perspective, the current agenda does not contain any topics of particular relevance to the Internet industry.
Further Meetings (Calendar)
- Thursday, 30 June 2022 (Brussels)
- Wednesday, 13 July 2022 (Brussels)
- Thursday, 14 July 2022 (Brussels)
Dossiers Timetable (25 May 2022)
ITRE Committee (EP)
Current Meetings
- Monday, 13 June 2022, 15.00-18.30 (Brussels)
- Tuesday, 14 June 2022, 9.00-12.30 and 16.00-18.30 (Brussels)
Excerpt from the Draft Agenda
13 June 2022, 15.00 – 17.30
…
- Establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027
ITRE/9/08400
***I 2022/0039(COD) COM(2022)0057 – C9-0045/2022
| Rapporteur: | |||
| Christophe Grudler (Renew) | PR – PE732.693v01-00 | ||
| Responsible: | |||
| ITRE | |||
| Opinions: | |||
| BUDG | José Manuel Fernandes (PPE) | PA – PE731.667v01-00 AM – PE732.635v01-00 |
|
- Consideration of draft report
- Deadline for tabling amendments: 16 June 2022, 18.00
- Structured dialogue with Ms Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, with particular focus on European support to the Ukrainian research community
…
14 June 2022, 10.00 – 12.30
*** Electronic vote***
…
- Harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain Union Legislative Acts
ITRE/9/06001
***I 2021/0106(COD) COM(2021)0206 – C9-0146/2021
| Rapporteur for the opinion: | |||
| Eva Maydell (PPE) | PA – PE719.801v01-00 AM – PE719.802v01-00 AM – PE730.106v01-00 |
||
| Responsible: | |||
| IMCO, LIBE* | Brando Benifei (S&D) Dragoş Tudorache (Renew) |
PR – PE731.563v01-00 | |
- Adoption of draft opinion
- Deadline for tabling amendments: 28 March 2022, 12.00
14 June 2022, 16.00 – 18.30
…
- Amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards establishing a framework for a European Digital Identity
ITRE/9/06236
***I 2021/0136(COD) COM(2021)0281 – C9-0200/2021
| Rapporteur: | |||
| Romana Jerković (S&D) | PR – PE732.707v01-00 | ||
| Responsible: | |||
| ITRE* | |||
| Opinions: | |||
| IMCO* | Andrus Ansip (Renew) | PA – PE704.865v01-00 AM – PE731.599v01-00 |
|
| JURI* | Pascal Arimont (PPE) | PA – PE731.697v01-00 | |
| LIBE* | Cristian Terheş (ECR) | PA – PE732.601v01-00 | |
- Consideration of draft report
- Deadline for tabling amendments: 28 June 2022, 12.00
…
Further Meetings (Calendar)
- Tuesday, 21 June 2022, 14.30-16.30 (Brussels)
- Monday, 27 June 2022, 15.00-18.30 (Brussels)
Dossiers Timetable (7 June 2022)
IMCO Committee (EP)
Current Meetings
- Wednesday, 15 June 2022, 9.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.30 (Brussels)
- Thursday, 16 June 2022, 9.00-11.30 (Brussels)
Excerpt from the Draft Agenda
15 June 2022, 9.00 – 11.30
…
- Amending Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment
IMCO/9/07216
***I 2021/0291(COD) COM(2021)0547 – C9-0366/2021
| Rapporteur: | |||
| Alex Agius Saliba (S&D) | |||
| Responsible: | |||
| IMCO | |||
- Reporting back to committee on the negotiations (Rule 74(3))
- IMCO delegation to Silicon Valley, San Francisco
* Reporting back to committee
…
15 June 2022, 15.00 – 18.30
- Amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards establishing a framework for a European Digital Identity
IMCO/9/06237
***I 2021/0136(COD) COM(2021)0281 – C9-0200/2021
| Rapporteur for the opinion: | |||
| Andrus Ansip (Renew) | PA – PE704.865v01-00 AM – PE731.599v01-00 |
||
| Responsible: | |||
| ITRE* | Romana Jerković (S&D) | PR – PE732.707v01-00 | |
- Consideration of amendments
…
With the Commission
- Exchange of views on impacts of the Russian Aggression on the Digital single Market (to be confirmed)
…
16 June 2022, 9.30 – 10.20
*** Electronic vote***
- Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC
IMCO/9/04992
***I 2020/0361(COD) COM(2020)0825 – C9-0418/2020
| Rapporteur: | |||
| Christel Schaldemose (S&D) | |||
| Responsible: | |||
| IMCO* | |||
- Vote on the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations
- Implementation of the Updated New Industrial Strategy for Europe: aligning spending to policy
IMCO/9/08203
| Rapporteur for the opinion: | |||
| Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE) | PA – PE719.810v01-00 AM – PE730.190v01-00 |
||
| Responsible: | |||
| ITRE | Tom Berendsen (PPE) | PR – PE719.639v01-00 AM – PE731.574v02-00 |
|
- Adoption of draft opinion
…
16 June 2022, 10.20 – 12.30
With the Commission
- Consumer protection in online video games: a European Single Market approach
IMCO/9/08347
| Rapporteur: | |||
| Adriana Maldonado López (S&D) | PR – PE719.799v01-00 | ||
| Responsible: | |||
| IMCO | |||
- Consideration of draft report
- Deadline for tabling amendments: 21 June 2022, 12.00
…
Further Meetings (Calendar)
- Monday, 11 July 2022 (Brussels)
- Tuesday, 12 July 2022 (Brussels)
Dossiers Timetable (May 2022)
CULT Committee (EP)
Current Meetings
- Wednesday, 15 June 2022, 9.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.30 (Brussels)
- Thursday, 16 June 2022, 9.00-11.00 and 11.00-12.30 (Brussels)
Excerpt from the Draft Agenda
15 June 2022, 9.00 – 12.30
…
*** Electronic vote***
- Harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain Union Legislative Acts
CULT/9/07983
***I 2021/0106(COD) COM(2021)0206 – C9-0146/2021
| Rapporteur for the opinion: | |||
| Marcel Kolaja (Verts/ALE) | PA – PE719.637v01-00 AM – PE730.175v01-00 |
||
| Responsible: | |||
| IMCO, LIBE* | Brando Benifei (S&D) Dragoş Tudorache (Renew) |
PR – PE731.563v01-00 | |
- Adoption of draft opinion
*** End of electronic vote ***
…
- Exchange of views with the Commission on combatting child sexual abuse
15 June 2022, 15.00 – 18.30 Uhr
- Structured dialogue with Commissioner Thierry Breton
…
16 June 2022, 9.00 – 11.00
- Exchange of views on the war against Ukraine: media freedom, fight against disinformation and the protection of journalists – in association with the LIBE and INGE Committees
…
Further Meetings (Calendar)
- Wednesday, 13 July 2022 (Brussels)
Further Scheduled Parliamentary Calendar Dates
- CW 25 / Monday, 20 to Thursday, 23 June: Mini Plenary Sessions Week (Brussels);
- CW 26 / Monday, 27 to Thursday, 30 June: Political Group and Committee Meetings Week (Brussels);
- CW 27 / Monday, 4 to Thursday, 7 July: Plenary Sessions Week (Strasbourg);
