Adopted on 14/12/2022
Reference:
REX/549-EESC-2022Rapporteur:
Plenary session:
574 -
Dec 14, 2022 Dec 15, 2022
Digital Services Act - Related Opinions
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Adopted on 18/05/2022
Reference:
SOC/712-EESC-2022Rapporteur:
Co-rapporteur:
Through this Opinion, the EESC supports the proposal by the European Commission to extend the list of EU crimes to all forms of hate crime and hate speech. It considers that the criteria set out in Article 83(1) of the TFEU for such an extension (significant developments in the area, a cross-border dimension, the need to act on a common basis) are met. The EESC therefore encourages the Council to adopt the proposed Decision in order to allow the European Commission to set minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and penalties in this area of crime.
Adopted on 23/02/2022
Reference:
SOC/713-EESC-2021Referral:
COM(2021) 731 final 2021/0381 CODCOM(2021) 731 final 2021/0381 CODCOM(2021) 734 final 2021/0375 CODCOM(2021) 734 final 2021/0375 CODRapporteur:
Co-rapporteur:
The "Reinforcing democracy and integrity of elections" package was issued by the European Commission in November 2021. The EESC was asked to address two of the three legislative components of the package: the revision of the Regulation on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations, and a proposal for a Regulation transparency and targeting of political advertising. In this Opinion, the EESC welcomes the aims and motivation of the package but also suggests specific recommendations to make the text of the Regulations more ambitious. One of the main objectives of the Opinion is to promote conscious political participation by citizens and a role for civil society in ensuring transparent, accessible and honest political activities.
Adopted on 07/07/2021
Reference:
INT/942-EESC-2021Rapporteur:
The Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU has decided to request an EESC opinion on one of its priority topics linked to digitalisation. Artificial intelligence is regarded as the most important aspect in digitalisation. Particularly important are also the integration of advanced technologies into society and transition to a gigabit society. With the emerging technologies such as the AI and the data economy, the EU can recover rapidly and become the world’s leading digital society.
The EESC opinion should cover the following topics:
Adopted on 15/07/2020
Reference:
INT/896-EESC-2020Referral:
COM(2020) 67 final Rapporteur:
Ulrich SAMM (Germany)
Co-rapporteur:
The EESC welcomes this package of new initiatives in a wide range of areas and advocates a European path to digitalisation by seizing the opportunities for the economy together with the protection of our data to ensure privacy and self-determination.
Adopted on 20/03/2019
Reference:
TEN/687-EESC-2018Referral:
JOIN(2018) 36 final Rapporteur:
Ulrich SAMM (Germany)
Co-rapporteur:
The EESC takes careful note of the initiative's definition of disinformation as verifiably false or misleading information that is a threat to democracy and does public harm. Spreading disinformation has become a part of a hybrid war with a clear political aim. However, it also emphasises that, in addition to false information, highly selective information, defamation, scare-mongering and inciting hatred attack citizens' fundamental rights (freedoms) and minority rights.
Multiple actions from all stakeholders are needed to provide quality information and raise awareness. To this end, the EESC welcomes the initiative for coordinated action to protect the EU, its institutions and its citizens against disinformation. The EESC emphasises the urgency of such measures but is also concerned, however, that the impact of this action plan might be limited given that the May 2019 European elections are not far off.
Adopted on 19/09/2018
Reference:
TEN/664-EESC-2018Referral:
COM(2018) 236 final Rapporteur:
Martin SIECKER (Netherlands)
A variety of tools and methods are currently used to undermine European values and external actions of the EU, as well as to develop and provoke separatist and nationalistic attitudes, manipulate the public and conduct direct interference in the domestic policy of sovereign countries and the EU as a whole. Moreover, the growing influence of cyber offensive capabilities and increased weaponization of technologies to achieve political goals is observed. The impact of such actions is often underestimated.
The EESC agrees with the Commission's call for more responsibility on the part of social media platforms. However, despite the existence of several studies and policy papers produced by European specialists in the last few years, the Commission's communication lacks any practical mandatory steps to ensure this.
Adopted on 14/03/2018
Reference:
INT/836-EESC-2017-05365-00-00-AC-TRAReferral:
COM(2017) 555 final Rapporteur:
Illegal online content is a complex and cross-cutting issue that needs to be tackled from a range of perspectives, both in terms of assessing its impact and harmonising the way it is dealt with in the legal framework of the Member States.
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