Warsaw, POLAND – Today, nine key recommendations on how Poland can boost EU tech competitiveness and accelerate Europe’s digital transformation, during its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, were unveiled by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe). 

As Poland prepares to take over the rotating presidency from Hungary on 1 January 2025, a CCIA Europe delegation visiting Warsaw has officially launched these recommendations in the presence of Polish government officials and industry representatives. 

Poland, assuming the first unabridged Presidency of the new mandate of the European Parliament and soon-to-be-confirmed European Commission, should leverage this strategic roadmap to foster a balanced regulatory framework that nurtures growth in the digital sector.

Amongst others, CCIA Europe calls for the elimination of internal trade barriers that continue to fragment the EU market, as well as for better cross-border opportunities for digital firms. 

The sector highlights the need to craft EU tech laws that are consistent from the outset. Digital policies must be grounded in actual market dynamics, but also need to respect fundamental principles, such as net neutrality and the EU’s ban on general monitoring. 

For instance, the Polish Presidency must ensure that the forthcoming Digital Networks Act (likely in the Commission’s 2025 work programme) includes unwavering guarantees that Europeans can continue to access the open internet and avoids unnecessary regulatory intervention – whether it is network fees or some mandatory arbitration mechanism.

CCIA Europe’s recommendations provide the Polish EU Presidency with an actionable roadmap that balances the need for regulatory consistency with the importance of fostering a dynamic and globally competitive digital economy across the European Union.

The following can be attributed to Senior Vice President and Head of CCIA Europe, Daniel Friedlaender:

“The Polish EU Presidency plays a crucial role in shaping Europe’s digital future. Together with the new European Parliament and Commission, Poland can reset the direction of EU digital policy for years to come – finally ushering in a shift from tech regulation to innovation.”

“CCIA Europe’s recommendations focus on fostering tech innovation, simplifying the implementation of digital regulations, and removing internal barriers to digital trade – all of these are key to ensuring the EU remains globally competitive.”

Notes for editors

CCIA Europe’s recommendations to the Polish EU Presidency are available here.

In a nutshell, the nine key recommendations are:

1. Deliver a true Digital Single Market and a strong pro-innovation agenda
   • Reduce internal market fragmentation and limit new regulations to encourage digital growth and consumer choice.
2. Remove digital trade barriers to boost growth and competitiveness
   • Maintain open markets, pursue trade alignment with international partners, and promote global standards to boost competitiveness.
3. Make EU laws more effective and consistent ‘by design’
   • Focus on transparent, evidence-based EU laws with clear implementation processes, avoiding overlapping regulations.
4. Ensure harmonised enforcement and implementation
   • Consistently apply new digital laws across EU states, with clear enforcement for the AI Act, DSA, and DMA to prevent regulatory fragmentation.
5. Fine-tune pending legislation with industry realities in mind
   • Avoid over-regulating with new rules like the AI Liability Directive; focus on implementing existing laws and improving GDPR enforcement.
6. Oppose discriminatory requirements in FiDA and PSR proposals
   • Ensure financial data access regulations do not unfairly restrict tech innovation or favour incumbent banks, instead supporting consumer choice.
7. Respect the net neutrality principle in the Digital Networks Act
   • Protect net neutrality principles, avoid unnecessary regulations, and prioritise cost-effective infrastructure rollout.
8. Improve enforcement of existing consumer law before introducing new rules
   • Prioritise enforcing existing consumer protections instead of adding an extra layer of new, potentially redundant rules.
9. Ensure EU legislative framework’s consistency with data protection rules
   • Maintain General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) consistency to avoid conflicting regulations, ensuring legal certainty, and fostering innovation.