At the mid-point of the EU’s ‘Digital Decade’, the Irish Presidency provides a crucial opportunity to engage with business to deliver shared digitalisation ambitions. As part of Ibec’s campaign, Making a Resilient, Competitive EU a Reality, this paper outlines how the EU can maintain a competitive edge and navigate external pressures.
The paper recommends that addressing controllable structural challenges, such as regulatory complexity, while maintaining an open digital trade agenda is essential. To secure the economic benefits of transformation, Europe must focus on simplifying the digital rulebook, enabling AI adoption, and fostering an environment where businesses can scale and export globally.
Key recommendations from the report include:
- Deliver a Digital Omnibus: Lead the delivery of an effective Digital Omnibus and thorough Fitness Check to address inconsistencies, unclarities, and overlaps in the current rulebook.
- Limit New Legislation: Apply a high threshold for further legislation to avoid costs and confusion, focusing instead on streamlined implementation and harmonisation at the national level.
- Invest in Foundations: Enable adoption and innovation in AI and key technologies through targeted investments in compute infrastructure, energy networks, and digital skills.
- Deepen the Single Market: Address regulatory barriers to growth by championing digital-first solutions (e.g., eLabelling) and upholding the country-of-origin principle.
- Protect Data Flows: Work with likeminded international partners to safeguard trusted international data flows, privacy, intellectual property rights, and trade secrets.
