Digital package: citizens’ trust, data flows and EU values for AI will be key, say MEPs

MEPs debated with Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, the Commission’s plans to make Europe fit for the digital age. The package presented today includes communications on shaping Europe’s digital future and on a European strategy for data, and a white paper on artificial intelligence (AI).

The video recording of the debate will be available here.

Reacting to the new initiatives, the Chairs of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee and of the Industry (ITRE) Committee said:

Petra De Sutter (Greens/EFA, BE), IMCO Chair: “We welcome the Commission’s package of digital initiatives, published today. Digitisation is transforming every sector of the economy and has implications for businesses, for consumers and for society as a whole. The EU needs a strategy to make our internal market rules fit for the digital age, and we have to do it in a way that wins the trust of consumers and creates a level-playing field for businesses. Defining a European approach to artificial intelligence and the data economy is especially important, and we look forward in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee to scrutinising these initiatives and shaping the debate in the coming months."

Cristian-Silviu Busoi (EPP, RO), ITRE Chair: "We need to create a stable and clear environment in order to encourage the use, development and innovation of AI. These are at the core of a strengthened industrial base to reinforce EU technological leadership and competitiveness. The European added value of AI should be trust: algorithms should be transparent and their process should be made comprehensible, in order to allow traceability of their decision making. We Europeans should also keep control over the huge wave of data we generate, as a matter of sovereignty, so this data works for the benefits of European citizens.”

Tomorrow, 20 February, at 9.00, Commissioner Breton and Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders will present the new initiatives to the Legal Affairs (JURI) Committee.

Ahead of the meeting, Adrian Vazquez Lazara (Renew Europe, ES), JURI Chair, said: “We look forward to hearing more on the Commission’s state of thought on the EU’s new digital proposal tomorrow. As our committee begins working on the AI package and digital services report, we will examine the Commission’s strategy and work alongside other committees to ensure Europe sets a global standard for the ethical use of AI and new technologies. Our goal is to establish a flexible legal framework that safeguards the fundamental rights of citizens; provides a fair definition of liability rules; defines intellectual property and data rights - without creating additional barriers for European companies and researches.”