Zoeken
Fact-checking and content moderation
Fact-checking of content on online platforms has so far played an important role in protecting democracy, by verifying statements and making sure trustworthy sources are used. Many social media platforms use fact-checkers to help them enforce content moderation policies, with the aim of protecting their users from harm. The EU's Digital Services Act – a binding legal instrument – strengthens content moderation obligations for online platforms, while the voluntary EU Code of Practice on Disinformation ...
Problems presented by third-country e-commerce
Online commerce is a defining feature of the modern world. It opens up opportunities for consumers and businesses alike. For consumers, it can mean a wider choice of goods and services at cheaper prices. For business, it offers new ways to reach larger markets. The borderless nature of online commerce means that, today, such opportunities within the EU are also open to businesses from elsewhere, and this phenomenon has been on the rise in recent years. Many consumers are familiar now with the advantages ...
EU Cyber Resilience Act
New technologies come with new risks, and the impact of cyber-attacks through digital products has increased dramatically in recent years. Consumers are increasingly falling victim to security flaws linked to digital products such as baby monitors, robo-vacuum cleaners, Wi-Fi routers and alarm systems. For businesses, the importance of ensuring that digital products in the supply chain are secure has become pivotal, considering three in five vendors have already lost money as a result of product ...
China: Economic indicators and trade with EU
This infographic provides insight into the economic performance of China compared with the European Union (EU) and examines the trade dynamics between them. In 2023, while China's GDP growth rate has returned to increase against the previous year, Europe's GDP growth rate continues to decline and stands at 0.6 percent. Both countries' inflation rates are down from the prior year, but Europe's rate remains at 6.3 percent while China's is at 0.2 percent. Over the last decade, trade between the EU and ...
Mis- and disinformation on social media and related risks to election integrity
Under the EU's landmark Digital Services Act (DSA), large social media platforms have pledged to take greater responsibility for curbing harmful and deceptive content. Despite this, information manipulation campaigns continue to unfold. On 6 December, Romania became the first EU country to cancel an election over foreign interference, following reports about information manipulation on TikTok. During the December 2024 plenary session, the Commission is due to make a statement on mis- and disinformation ...
Toy safety regulation
On 28 July 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise EU toy safety legislation, by introducing a new regulation and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC. The proposal pursues two main objectives: a higher level of child protection, including from the most harmful substances; and fewer non-compliant and unsafe toys on the EU market. In relation to the first objective, the proposal extends the definition of health to children's psychological and mental health and to their wellbeing and cognitive ...
Internet governance: Keeping the internet open, free and unfragmented
The governance of the internet has been a topic of debate since its creation. The internet is not governed by a centralised entity, but rather by a decentralised patchwork of stakeholders, including national governments, the private sector, the technical community and civil society. They work together in various internet governance bodies, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Several United Nations specialised agencies ...
Alternative dispute resolution
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a process allowing complaints to be settled out of court with the assistance of an impartial dispute resolution body. Through ADR, consumers can settle a complaint against a trader for breach of contract, outside court procedures, assisted by impartial, neutral dispute mediation, arbitration or conciliation. Since 2013, the share of e commerce in the EU economy has increased significantly, up from 2 % to 4 % of EU gross domestic product (GDP), increasing the ...
Revision of EU marketing standards for certain 'breakfast' directives
EU food markets have evolved significantly over time, driven by innovation and changes in consumer demand and expectations. Taking this shift into account, on 21 April 2023 the European Commission proposed to update some of the rules governing a set of directives on food products – the 'breakfast' directives. Changes include introducing stricter origin labelling for honey, increasing the fruit content in jams, reducing sugar in fruit juice and clearing the way for the production of lactose-free evaporated ...
Competitiveness on the European Council agenda
Competitiveness is a multifaceted concept connected with the need to foster the EU's productivity, the most important driver of long-term growth. While competitiveness has always been an important focus of attention for EU leaders, the past years of multiple crises and an increasingly complex geopolitical situation have brought the topic to the forefront of the political agenda. Turning the EU into a strong and independent global actor supported by a robust economic base, as well as competitive products ...