Time to Review and Simplify EU Tech Regulations [STATEMENT]
Europe is losing momentum in the global technological race, and one of the key reasons is the increasingly complex system of digital regulation – argues the Digital Poland Association, calling for the EU’s regulatory review, the so-called Digital Fitness Check, to become a turning point in this regard. The digital industry hopes that the new guidelines being developed in Brussels will lead to simplification of the legal framework and create a more innovation-friendly environment.
The EU digital regulatory review, known as the Digital Fitness Check, is a comprehensive assessment planned by the European Commission of existing rules governing the digital economy. Its objective is to evaluate whether current regulations are coherent, effective, and whether they impose excessive administrative burdens on companies operating in the technology sector.
The Digital Poland Association has submitted its recommendations for changes in European digital regulations to both Polish and EU decision-makers. Key proposals include simplifying legislation, adopting a risk-based approach, and ensuring greater consistency in enforcement across the European Union.
In its position paper, the organisation’s experts emphasise that the current model of EU digital regulation is becoming increasingly complex and fragmented. New legal acts often regulate overlapping areas of technological activity, which increases compliance costs, creates legal uncertainty, and hinders the development of new technologies in Europe.
“The EU’s digital regulatory review – the Digital Fitness Check– should mark a strategic shift: from an overly cautious and fragmented regulatory model to a more coherent, predictable, and innovation-friendly legal framework,” said Michał Kanownik, President of the Digital Poland Association.
Need for Evidence-Based Regulation
One of the key recommendations highlighted in the position paper is the need to strengthen the role of robust impact assessments in the development of new technology regulations. According to the experts, new legislative initiatives should only be introduced after thorough economic and legal analyses have been conducted. These should take into account the real costs for businesses, as well as possible regulatory alternatives such as self-regulation or co-regulation.
“Europe needs digital regulations based on solid data and evidence, not solely on concerns or political assumptions. Only then will it be possible to create a stable and predictable environment for the development of new technologies,” added Michał Kanownik.
Implications for AI and Online Platforms
The document also addresses regulations concerning artificial intelligence. According to its authors, regulatory efforts should focus primarily on high-risk AI applications, rather than covering the entire technology.
The Digital Poland Association also points to the issue of overlapping regulations concerning online platforms and digital content. Today, companies face obligations stemming from multiple legal acts, leading to duplicated reporting requirements and increased administrative costs. The organisation therefore proposes recognising a single legal act as the primary regulatory framework in this area and reducing duplicative provisions.
Call to Pause New Legislative Initiatives
The position paper also refers to the planned Digital Fairness Act. According to Digital Poland experts, introducing new regulations in areas already covered by existing legislation may further increase the complexity of the regulatory system.
The organisation therefore recommends pausing work on new provisions under the Digital Fairness Act at least until the Digital Fitness Check is completed and the functioning of existing regulations has been properly assessed.
“Europe today needs digital regulations that both protect users and support the development of new technologies. If we want to compete effectively with the world’s leading economies, we must simplify the regulatory framework and create a more predictable environment for technological investment. And this is something that needs to happen now,” concluded Michał Kanownik.