European Election 2019: eco Performs Digital Policy Campaign Check

• eco compares digital policy positions of parties on 12 points
• Parties largely unified: Copyright reform should be re-examined
• eco calls for completion of the digital single market with a unified legal framework as a priority

On 26 May 2019 the Europe is going to the polls. If the EU wants to achieve its ambitious goals in areas such as cybersecurity, copyright, digital infrastructures, and 5G technology, then the strict and resolute implementation of a modern network policy will be even more important in the coming legislative term.

On the basis of the election programs of the German parties, the CDU/CSU, SPD, Bündnis 90/The Greens, Die Linke, and the FDP, eco –  Association of the Internet industry has investigated which thematic focus and implementation strategies the different parties are pursuing, as well as the measures planned, and assessed then from the perspective of the Internet industry.

Parties largely unified: Copyright reform should be re-examined

“It is striking that all parties have basically the same core digital policy topics  on their agendas,” says eco Chair Oliver Süme. For all parties, the topic IT security has a central importance, along with product liability and minimum standards. All parties are largely unified in their critical attitude to the recently concluded European copyright reform and in particular the upload filters that are looming in this context. “We can only hope, and appeal strongly to all parties to take advantage of this unity and to subject this controversial law to a re-examination, and in particular to prevent upload filters, in the coming legislative term,” according to Süme.

eco calls for completion of the digital single market with a unified legal framework as a priority

From the perspective of the Internet industry, he EU should also give particular priority to the rapid realization of the digtal single market. “This includes, above all, the creation of a unified European regulatory framework and equivalent conditions for competition in all Member States,” Süme explains. “We need unity in Europe. As long as we create competition among ourselves within Europe, we will have no chance on the digital world market,” Süme continues.

The complete Election Program Check is available online (in German) at: https://www.eco.de/themen/politik-recht/eu-agenda/#EUProgramme.

eco’s core demands for digital policy for the European election are available online at: https://international.eco.de/euagenda/.