EU members lobby for better rules to support data-driven technologies and businesses

Member states tussle over Digital Single Market regulations

Fourteen EU countries are lobbying the EU presidency - currently held by the Netherlands - to refrain from introducing more regulations that could act as a barrier to the development of data-driven technologies.

"It is vital for European competitiveness to take a positive approach to new advancements in digital technologies and business models," wrote government ministers from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK.

"Europe can benefit significantly from new data-driven technologies if the right future-proof regulatory framework is established," they added.

Rather than placing barriers to the development of data-driven technologies - in which the European trails both the US and the economically advanced economies of Asia - the Digital Single Market initiative ought to provide a framework that helps companies in Europe to develop data-driven businesses.

"We share the vision of a Digital Single Market with a simple, transparent and stable regulatory environment that stimulates digital entrepreneurship and spurs digitisation across the economy to the benefit of business and consumers.

"The Digital Single Market should be characterised by openness towards innovation and new business models, by stronger competition and minimal barriers, and a favourable environment for new entrants. A market-based approach where businesses do not face unjustified burdens, can operate freely across borders like they do in their home countries, and all legislation is digital by default is equally essential."

The letter was written in advance of a meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy and Competitiveness Council on Thursday this week.

The ministers warned that the EU risks driving data-businesses abroad with over-lapping regulations, which will not only increase costs, but also uncertainty over the legal and regulatory environment.

"We must provide a coherent and technology neutral data-protection regime without overlapping regulation. We encourage the Commission to deliver an ambitious review of the e-Privacy directive with the aim to repeal all elements that are no longer fit for purpose while ensuring the right balance between digital products and services and the fundamental rights of data subjects across the regulatory framework," they continued.

"Efforts should be made to provide consumers and businesses with regulatory certainty and easy access to information about existing rules. The Single Digital Gateway should contribute to this through a user-friendly architecture and an improvement of the underlying instruments and online procedures at Member State level. In addition cooperation between national consumer protection authorities should be strengthened."