MEP Axell Voss’ manifesto on digital sovereignty

MEP Axel Voss (EPP, Germany) released today a manifesto in which he gives recommendations for Europe not to become a “digital colony”. In the introduction, Axel Voss explains that “there is a strong risk that the next decisive technological stage may be entirely shaped by non-European actors, which often do not share our core values, traditions and standards or even try to undermine them.” Some of his proposals echo Eurosmart’s manifesto on digital strategic autonomy.

Axel Voss’ manifesto include the following key points:

Cybesecurity

-Only propose regulations (not directives) and fully harmonise the Digital Single Market 2.0. Likewise, the NIS Directive should be transformed into a regulation to avoid diverging national legislations and hence market fragmentation.

-Develop cybersecurity certification schemes, pursuant to the Cybersecurity Act, including a scheme for 5G network components.

-Establish a list of risk-based mandatory cybersecurity requirements for all products and services, preferring a sector specific approach.

Digital Identity

-Establish a European Digital Identity ecosystem for safe online identification and age verification using only personal data that is strictly necessary for the purpose of the service. A mandatory European Single Sign-On Standard should be initiated for digital services and downstream services (e.g. mobile apps and web sites).

-Update and expand the eIDAS regulation and make the use of services for secure digital identities more binding. Use the forthcoming eIDAS evaluation to introduce an eID function for legal entities and an interoperable identity standard for e-governance services.

Competition policy

-Reform EU competition policy to better target abuses of market power, for instance better consider the value of data.  This reform should also include measures to improve data portability and interoperability.

-Better protect European technology start-ups and key technology knowledge from being sold to foreign state funds.

Digital Single market

-Harmonise standards in the Digital Single market.

-Introduce a “digitised in the EU” brand which would be based on Europe’s ethical and data protection standards.

-Increase EU investments in the research of key technologies like AI, robotics, quantum computing, microelectronics, batteries, the Internet of Things, nano-technology, DLT and 3D printing.

-Withdraw the e-privacy proposal and include specific parts of it in the GDPR.

For any questions on this issue, do not hesitate to contact Camille Dornier: camille.dornier@eurosmart.com