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☆ EU to try again for renewable energy deal after nuclear row
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) - European Union countries will try again next week to pass a deal on new renewable energy targets, which have been stalled by concerns from France and other states that the law sidelines nuclear energy. Paris has sought changes to the law to offer more favourable treatment of nuclear energy, and said the final deal puts at a disadvantage countries like France with large shares of nuclear power. Nuclear energy is low-carbon, but not renewable. The EU law is designed to drive a rapid expansion of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Meanwhile, states including Germany and Luxembourg - both anti-nuclear countries - plus Denmark and Ireland have urged the EU to resolve the spat quickly, warning the delay endangers investments in renewable energy.

Persons: Paris, Bruno Le Maire, Kate Abnett, Dominique Vidalon, Frances Kerry Organizations: Union, EU, European Commission, French Finance, France, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, EU, Paris, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland

☆ EU's Breton cites telcos' investment gap for Big Tech network fee push
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It is better to be a telco in the U.S. than in Europe," Breton told a conference. Adjusted for GDP, 5G investment in the EU is lower than in other regions of the world," he said. He dismissed fears that requiring some users to pay more than others would breach EU net neutrality rules which say all users should be treated equally. "We will not touch net neutrality. It is not a question of changing net neutrality.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Breton, Foo Yun Chee, Richard Chang Organizations: Big Tech, EU, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Telecom Italia, Alphabet's, Google, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, United States, U.S, Breton, Orange

☆ AI generated content should be labelled, EU Commissioner Jourova says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Unveiled late last year, Microsoft-backed (MSFT.O) OpenAI's ChatGPT has become the fastest-growing consumer application in history and set off a race among tech companies to bring generative AI products to market. "Signatories who integrate generative AI into their services like Bingchat for Microsoft, Bard for Google (GOOGL.O) should build in necessary safeguards that these services cannot be used by malicious actors to generate disinformation," Jourova told a press conference. "Signatories who have services with a potential to disseminate AI generated disinformation should in turn put in place technology to recognise such content and clearly label this to users," she said. Companies such as Google, Microsoft and Meta Platforms (META.O) that have signed up to the EU Code of Practice to tackle disinformation should report on safeguards put in place to tackle this in July, Jourova said. "By leaving the Code, Twitter has attracted a lot of attention and its actions and compliance with EU law will be scrutinised vigorously and urgently," Jourova said.

Persons: Bard, Vera Jourova, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Jourova, scrutinised, Foo Yun Chee, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Companies, European Commission, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Twitter, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, EU

☆ Instagram, Google, and TikTok should warn users about AI-generated content and build safeguards, EU official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tech companies should "clearly label" apps which could spread AI-generated disinformation, Bloomberg reported. That's according to a top EU official, and a voluntary code that Google, Meta, and TikTok have signed up to. TikTok, Meta, and Microsoft have been urged to warn users about AI-generated content, Bloomberg reported. According to Vera Jourova, a European Commission vice president, those companies should now "clearly label" any services which could spread AI-generated disinformation, Bloomberg reported. But last month, Elon Musk officially signed off on Twitter's withdrawal from the voluntary code – which seems to have provoked European officials.

Persons: TikTok, Vera Jourova, Jourova, Microsoft's Bing, Bard –, Elon Musk Organizations: Bloomberg, EU, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, Digital Services, Google, Twitter

☆ Majority of EU countries against network fee levy on Big Tech, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 3 (Reuters) - A majority of EU countries have rejected a push by Europe's big telecoms operators to force Big Tech to help fund the rollout of 5G and broadband in the region, people familiar with the matter said. Telecoms ministers from 18 countries either rejected or criticised the proposed network fee levy on tech firms at a meeting with EU industry chief Thierry Breton in Luxembourg on Thursday, the sources said. That echoed comments made last month by EU telecoms regulators' group BEREC. Breton is expected to issue a report by the end of June with a summary of feedback provided by Big Tech, telecoms providers and others which will indicate his next steps. Any legislative proposal needs to be negotiated with EU countries and EU lawmakers before it can become law.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Breton, Foo Yun Chee, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: EU, Big Tech, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Telecom Italia, France Telecom, French, Google, Apple Inc, Inc, Netflix Inc, Amazon.com Inc, Microsoft Corp, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Luxembourg, Orange, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania

☆ EU countries weaken nature law in hunt for deal -document
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 2 (Reuters) - European Union countries want to water down parts of the bloc's flagship nature law by adding loopholes to dodge certain targets, as they attempt to find a deal on the contested proposal, a draft document showed. The EU's proposed law would set binding targets for countries to restore damaged natural environments. A draft negotiating document, seen by Reuters, showed countries plan to weaken proposed targets to revive drained peatlands used in agriculture, and insert a loophole so countries can avoid these targets in certain circumstances. "Ireland supports the ambition of the Nature Restoration Law and is working with colleagues across Europe to ensure appropriate flexibilities that enable implementation," the spokesperson said. EU countries and the European Parliament must both approve the nature law.

Persons: Ireland, Kate Abnett, Susan Fenton Organizations: Union, Reuters, European Commission, Restoration, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, Belgium, Ireland, peatlands, Irish, Europe

☆ UAE oil chief is ‘the perfect person’ to lead UN climate talks, COP28 director general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The UAE will host the COP28 climate summit from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 12. The director general of COP28 on Thursday defended the appointment of oil executive Sultan al-Jaber, describing the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company CEO as the "perfect person" to lead the climate talks. The UAE, the third-largest oil-producing member of the OPEC alliance, will host the COP28 climate summit from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 12. Asked by CNBC's Dan Murphy to respond to the calls to remove al-Jaber as president-designate of the summit, COP28 Director General Majid al-Suwaidi said: "This is a discussion that we've seen a lot in the media. "As the UAE we've been really focused on how do we deliver the results we need for COP28 and I know that Dr. Sultan is the perfect person to do that.

Persons: Sultan al, Jaber, COP28, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Majid al, Suwaidi, we've, —, they're, Sultan Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, European, United, U.S, UAE we've Locations: UAE, COP28, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

☆ Poland slams vote questioning Hungary holding EU presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, June 1 (Reuters) - Poland rebuked on Thursday the European Parliament backing a resolution that questions Hungary's ability to hold the European Union presidency next year due to concerns about judicial independence. According to a calendar agreed by all EU governments in 2016, Hungary is to hold the presidency of the bloc between July and December 2024. Hungary and Poland have long been at odds with the EU over multiple issues, such as the rule of law, media freedoms and LGBTQ rights. The EU has frozen billions of euros in funds for Budapest and Warsaw due to its concerns. Hungary has refused to provide any military equipment to its neighbour to help it fight off a Russian invasion, and Hungary has criticised EU sanctions against Moscow.

Persons: Mateusz Morawiecki, Viktor Orban's, Balazs Orban, Alan Charlish, Anna Wlodarczak, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WARSAW, Parliament, Union, EU, European Union, European Commission, . State Department, Twitter, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Brussels, Moldova, Budapest, Warsaw

☆ Centre-right lawmakers quit EU talks on nature law
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, May 31 (Reuters) - The biggest lawmaker group in the European Parliament on Wednesday walked out of negotiations on a landmark EU law to protect nature, dealing another blow to the contested proposal. French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested a pause on new EU environment legislation, while Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo questioned whether the nature law is needed. Meanwhile, the European People's Party - EU Parliament's largest lawmaker group - has called to reject it. The nature law needs approval from both EU countries and the EU Parliament, which is scheduled to vote on it in July. So far, EU countries have not attempted to block the proposal outright, but are negotiating amendments.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Alexander De Croo, Christine Schneider, Jutta Paulus, Kate Abnett, Sriraj Organizations: Wednesday, European Commission, Belgian, European People's Party, EU Parliament's, EPP, EU, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels

☆ Elon Musk pulled Twitter from the EU's anti-disinformation agreement and continues to troll with alt-right memes and dogwhistles. It could be a sign he'll close the site to Europe completely.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

European Commissioner Thierry Breton said Twitter pulled out of the EU's disinformation agreement. The law, which establishes requirements for monitoring and flagging disinformation, would make the now voluntary agreement mandatory for large social media sites. "Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. Politico reported Breton had previously warned Musk that Twitter could be banned from the EU if it fails to abide by the rules. While Musk has withdrawn Twitter from the EU disinformation agreement, he continues to troll by posting content that skirts the lines of potentially being flagged under the DSA and another EU content policy regarding hate speech.

SummarySummary Companies OpenAI CEO reverses earlier threat to leave EuropeSays had productive week of conversations about regulating AIEU lawmakers were critical about OpenAI's threat regionMay 26 (Reuters) - OpenAI has no plans to leave Europe, CEO Sam Altman said on Friday, reversing a threat made earlier this week to leave the region if it becomes too hard to comply with upcoming laws on artificial intelligence. "We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave," Altman said in a tweet on Friday. His threat of quitting Europe had drawn criticism from EU industry chief Thierry Breton and a host of other lawmakers. He called his tour a "very productive week of conversations in Europe about how to best regulate AI!" OpenAI first clashed with regulators in March, when Italian data regulator Garante shut the app down domestically, accusing OpenAI of flouting European privacy rules.

☆ Fact Check-Advert for Ukraine military service in exchange for EU, UK citizenship is fake, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Reuters similarly found no evidence of an “EU Citizenship Program” when searching online and via EU websites (archive.is/wip/6aeK2). Each Member State determines the criteria necessary for acquisition and loss of nationality, subject to EU law, the spokesperson said, and EU citizenship is granted automatically to citizens of EU countries (archive.is/MAsN2). “Third countries cannot grant EU citizenship, neither can private entities, such as companies,” the spokesperson said. Spokespeople for the EU Commission and the UK Home Office told Reuters that the advert is fake. There is also no centralized EU citizenship program, as claimed in the advert.

☆ Meta warned that its record $1.3 billion fine sets a 'dangerous precedent' when the internet is already 'fracturing under pressure from authoritarian regimes'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Meta was handed a record $1.3 billion fine by the European Union on Monday. That was over concerns that Facebook data transferred to the US could be used to spy on European citizens. Meta warned that its record $1.3 billion fine "sets a dangerous precedent" related to online freedoms in a statement released Monday. "At a time where the internet is fracturing under pressure from authoritarian regimes, like-minded democracies should work together to promote and defend the idea of the open internet," the statement added. Meta has been given a five-month grace period to stop transferring Facebook users' data to the US.

☆ Meta hit with a record-breaking $1.3 billion fine over data privacy breaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Meta has been fined $1.3 billion, the Irish Data Protection Commission announced Monday. It was previously warned about transferring Facebook users' data to the US. In a record for European Union privacy violations, Meta has been fined $1.3 billion over its handling of users' data, Ireland's Data Protection Commission announced Monday. Meta was previously warned by the EU for transferring Facebook users data to US servers, saying that it was not sufficiently protected from American spy agencies. Companies have been in limbo over data protection rules since 2020, when the EU banned a pact which regulated data transfers across the Atlantic.

The agreement came after the European Union, which participates in the G7, inched closer this month to passing legislation to regulate AI technology, potentially the world's first comprehensive AI law that could form a precedent among the advanced economies. The G7 leaders said they "need to immediately take stock of the opportunities and challenges of generative AI", a subset of the technology popularised by the ChatGPT app. A month later, EU lawmakers urged world leaders to find ways to control AI technologies, saying they were developing faster than expected. The United States so far has taken a cautious approach on governing AI, with President Joe Biden last month saying it remained to be seen whether AI is dangerous. While acknowledging differences on how AI should be regulated, the G7 leaders agreed on Friday to create a ministerial forum dubbed the "Hiroshima AI process" to discuss issues around generative AI, such as copyrights and disinformation, by the end of this year.

☆ National Conservatism: Why are some British Conservatives behaving like the next election is already lost?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The list goes on, but the general theme of this conference was that British Conservatism is having an identity crisis and these ideas could be the solution. CNN spoke to several people involved in this conference as well as people inside the Conservative Party who opposed the conference and its ideas. Another group of Conservatives supporting the vocal criticisms of Sunak are, sources say, thinking beyond the election and about future leadership contests. Indeed, another Conservative conference was held at the weekend, seen widely as a “Bring Back Boris” event, which the former PM didn’t turn up to. Pro-Sunak Conservatives who still think the next election could be won are also not happy.

But Michelin, Continental and Pirelli (PIRC.MI) told Reuters they are pursuing alternatives to 6PPD, with Michelin and Continental adding collective industry action may be necessary to find solutions. Continental said its dandelion tyres were developed to find a sustainable form of natural rubber, and addressing 6PPD was a separate focus. The worst-performing rival tyres Michelin has tested so far emit around 8 kg per year. Michelin and Continental said they are already focused on making their tyres more durable - Michelin cut its tyre emissions 5% between 2015 and 2020, Roget said. "The advent of the EV is the time to make this change," to improve tyres," Enso's Erlendsson said.

☆ Italian court agrees to extradite EU lawmaker to Belgium
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, May 16 (Reuters) - An Italian court on Tuesday agreed to extradite to Belgium an EU lawmaker under investigation in a cash-for-influence corruption scandal at the European Parliament, one of his lawyers said. Andrea Cozzolino, European parliamentarian for Italy's centre-left Democratic Party, has been under house arrest in the southern city of Naples since Feb. 10, after he was detained on the basis of a European warrant issued by Belgium. The 60-year-old lawmaker has denied any wrongdoing. A court in Naples ruled on Tuesday that Cozzolino could be sent to Belgium. Panzeri, who was arrested in Brussels in December, has agreed to cooperate with investigations in exchange for a reduced sentence.

☆ Britain ditches commitment to remove all EU laws by the end of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Britain no longer intends to remove all European Union laws by the end of 2023 and instead will amend the retained EU law (REUL) bill to clarify the laws it intends to revoke this year, the government said. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said in January the government would not extend an end-of-year deadline to replace all the European Union laws that were retained after Britain left the bloc in 2020. But on Wednesday, business and trade minister Kemi Badenoch said that rather than automatically revoking almost all retained EU law, the government would amend the bill to propose to revoke only about 600 out of around 4,000 retained EU laws. "Today the Government is tabling an amendment... which will replace the current sunset in the Bill with a list of the retained EU laws that we intend to revoke under the Bill at the end of 2023," Badenoch said in a ministerial statement. Badenoch said that 1,000 EU laws had already been revoked or reformed since Britain left the EU in 2020, and a financial services bill would revoke a further 500 pieces of retained law.

☆ EU draft rules propose tougher cybersecurity labelling rules for Amazon, Google, Microsoft
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS, May 9 (Reuters) - Amazon (AMZN.O), Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google, Microsoft (MSFT.O) and other non-European Union cloud service providers looking to secure an EU cybersecurity label to handle sensitive data can only do so via a joint venture with an EU-based company, according to an EU draft document seen by Reuters. The document adds the cloud service must be operated and maintained from the EU, and all cloud service customer data stored and processed in the EU and that EU laws take precedence over non-EU laws regarding the cloud service provider. The latest draft proposal from EU cybersecurity agency ENISA concerns an EU certification scheme (EUCS) that would vouch for the cybersecurity of cloud services and determine how governments and companies in the bloc select a vendor for their business. The latest draft could fragment the EU single market as each country has full discretion to impose the requirements whenever it sees fit, an industry source said. EU countries will review the draft later this month after which the European Commission will adopt a final scheme.

☆ Siemens, SAP say EU draft Data Act puts trade secrets at risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A sign with the logo of Siemens company is on display outside its office in Moscow, Russia, May 12, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaBRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) - German business software maker SAP (SAPG.DE) and German engineering company Siemens (SIEGn.DE) have joined U.S. tech giants in criticising draft EU laws on the use of data generated by smart gadgets and other consumer goods. EU countries and EU lawmakers are working on the details of the Data Act, proposed by the European Commission last year before it can be adopted as legislation. U.S. criticisms have included that the proposed law is too restrictive, while the German companies say a provision forcing companies to share data with third parties to provide aftermarket or other data-driven services could endanger trade secrets. "Effectively, this could mean that EU companies will have to disclose data to third-country competitors, notably those not operating in Europe and against which the Data Act's safeguards would be ineffective," they said.

☆ Centre-right lawmakers push back on EU nature laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It urged the European Commission to first help countries address issues caused by existing EU nature laws. The EPP has the most lawmakers of any group in the European Parliament - 176 out of the assembly's 705 members. A source from the EPP group said it stood ready to reject the two laws, if its views were not heard. That could block the policies, if lawmakers from some other groups in the parliament also reject them. A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the EPP resolution, but said it would work with lawmakers and EU countries to address the issues raised.

☆ Head of Sweden's No. 2 party calls for rethink of relations with EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

STOCKHOLM, May 2 (Reuters) - Sweden should seek more exemptions from EU laws as part of a reset in relations with the 27-member bloc, the head of the Sweden Democrats, the country's second largest party and an informal part of the government, said on Tuesday. Swedes are among the most positive in Europe regarding EU membership, with 68% in support, according to a survey by Gothenburg University in March. The Sweden Democrat's EU-sceptic stance was long seen as an obstacle to their acceptance into the political mainstream and the party dropped that demand in 2018. As part of the deal, the Sweden Democrats have been able to exercise considerable influence on policy, pushing for tougher immigration rules and watered-down ambitions on climate change. The Sweden Democrats have threatened to bring down the coalition if it doesn't cut taxes on fuels and stand up to the EU over asylum quotas.

☆ GC Agenda: May 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Practical Law The Journal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Clawback Listing StandardsPublic companies should be aware that proposed NYSE and Nasdaq clawback listing standards may be in place earlier than expected. Organizations may use biometric data in a variety of ways, including when:tracking employee time; restricting access to physical and digital assets; monitoring consumer shopping behavior; and integrating biometric data into consumer products and services. Consider whether the organization’s current policies and procedures meet applicable biometric data handling requirements, including notice, consent, retention, storage, and security obligations. Review applicable laws and obligations when contracting with service providers that handle biometric data and continuously monitor their performance. In February 2023, the NYSE and Nasdaq filed proposed new listing standards, which contemplated that they could become effective as early as April 27, 2023.

☆ G7 should adopt 'risk-based' AI regulation, ministers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But such regulation should also "preserve an open and enabling environment" for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values, G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Japan. EU lawmakers on Thursday reached a preliminary agreement on a new draft of its upcoming AI Act, including copyright protection measures for generative AI, following a call for world leaders to convene a summit to control such technology. Vestager, EU's tech regulation chief, said the bloc "will have the political agreement this year" on the AI copyright legislation, such as labelling obligations for AI-generated images or music. Japan, this year's chair of G7, meanwhile, has taken an accommodative approach on AI developers, pledging support for public and industrial adoption of AI. Japan will host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in late May, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss AI rules with world leaders.

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