EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Ratas signed on 14 December a Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2018-2019.
The Declaration presents 31 new legislative proposals tabled by the Commission which will be given priority treatment for adoption or “substantial progress” by the 2019 European elections.
Among the priority areas outlined in the Joint Declaration, the three Presidents committed to delivering on the implementation of a connected Digital Single Market, “by completing the modernisation of rules for the electronic communications sector, by setting higher standards of consumer protection for online and distance sales of both digital and physical goods, and by strengthening cybersecurity”.
In addition, they agreed that progress is also needed to ensure a high level of data protection, digital rights and ethical standards in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Background
Since 2016, the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making provides for an annual agreement between the EU institutions on the key topics that should be prioritised. The first Joint Declaration, setting out the EU’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year, was signed in December 2016.
With this year’s Joint Declaration and the policy priorities thereof, the three Presidents aim to show that “Europe can deliver for its citizens when and where it matters”, which is all the more critical 18 months ahead of the next European elections.
For further information, the Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2018-2019 can be found here.
