"Our goal should be to make Europe the global leader of the digital economy", it in these terms that Finland, which takes over the EU Council Presidency on 1st July, speaks about its digital objectives for the next six months. At the heart of its program: digitisation, artificial intelligence, as well as data and platform economy.
For major events, Helsinki announces a Justice Council on 8 October in Luxembourg, where new technologies and internal security, including 5G networks, will be in the spotlight. Another Council will be held in Brussels on 3 December on the judicial aspects of artificial intelligence. On the same day, a Telecommunications Council will also be held. According to a provisional agenda, the Finnish Presidency announces a general approach on the draft regulation on the confidentiality of electronic communications, a political debate on the next steps towards a data economy and an exchange of views on cybersecurity of 5G networks.
In its work programme, Helsinki notes that further efforts are needed to achieve a competitive, people-centred data economy by promoting the availability, interoperability and use of data, while respecting the rights and privacy of individuals. "We will address areas requiring further work, favouring a horizontal approach that takes into account the cross-sectoral role and needs of the data economy", says the new Presidency.
It should also be noted that the Presidency intends to promote the digitisation and automation of transport, as they will help "not only in improving safety and efficiency but also in meeting the environmental and climate goals for all modes of transport". See the programme at: https://bit.ly/2ZR4UTc (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)