Pressure mounts on social media – EUbusiness Week newsletter 820 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 820 top stories: EU takes on social media over fake news; New EU rules to help companies grow in single market; Whistleblowers to be protected by EU law; After Dieselgate: EU car type approval rules tightened; Europe’s AI efforts set for EUR 1.5bn boost; Mexico and EU agree revamped trade deal

Publisher’s Note

The boundaries between social media and traditional broadcast media narrowed this week, as the EU moved against hate speech, fake news and a lack of control over social media. Rules agreed Thursday to protect minors and reinforce the battle against hate speech will apply irrespective of whether media content is consumed online or offline. They apply to video-sharing platforms, and on-demand services cannot escape either. As Sabine Verheyen MEP said: “By applying similar rules to similar services, irrespective of whether the media content is consumed online or offline, EU regulation is made fit for the digital era.”
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU takes on social media over fake news

The Commission put forward measures Thursday to tackle fake news online, including a code of practice on disinformation, fact-checkers, and actions to promote quality journalism and media literacy.
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Online platforms to be more transparent under new EU rules

2. New EU rules to help companies grow in single market

EU companies should find it easier to merge, divide or move within the single market and to digitalise setting-up and running a business, under new company law rules outlined Wednesday by Brussels.
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3. Whistleblowers to be protected by EU law

In the wake of the Dieselgate, Luxleaks, Panama Papers and recently the Cambridge Analytica revelations, the Commission has proposed a new law strengthen whistleblower protection.
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4. After Dieselgate: EU car type approval rules tightened

Stronger supervision of the European car approval system has been voted in by the Euro-Parliament, giving the Commission the power to make sure manufacturers are no longer able to cheat on emissions.
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5. Europe’s AI efforts set for EUR 1.5bn boost

The EU is to boost investment in artificial intelligence by EUR 1.5 bn, Brussels announced Wednesday, part of a package of measures to boost Europe’s competitiveness in the field of AI.
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6. Mexico and EU agree revamped trade deal

Almost all trade in goods between the EU and Mexico are to be duty-free, including in agriculture, following Saturday’s agreement on a new trade deal, part of a broader, updated global agreement.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Messi: Lionel Messi, the world’s best-paid footballer, can register the trademark ‘MESSI’ for sports equipment and clothing, the EU’s top Court ruled Thursday despite a Spanish company’s ‘MASSI’ trademark.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

European political parties: revised funding rules adopted – President Tusk meetings to prepare for the EU-Western Balkans summit – Brussels II Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ – Agreement on European travel information and authorisation system (ETIAS)
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Commission Watch

Audiovisual breakthrough – Vaccination call for stronger EU cooperation against preventable diseases – Online platforms standards – online disinformation – healthcare data sharing – artificial intelligence – Company Law Rules – data-based economy – Tunisia reforms – Mergers: Altice fine – Ireland sweetened drinks tax cleared – Macao, Hong Kong reports – dangerous substances campaign – probe into Italian state loan to Alitalia – Whistleblower protection
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Parliament Watch

Audiovisual media agreement – speeding up assessment of asylum requests – Brexit: EU and UK citizens’ rights remain EP’s key priority – MEPs begin work on 2018 enlargement package – Caterpillar: Budget committee backs EUR 4.6m in EU aid for 2,287 redundant workers
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EU diary

30 Apr: European Parliament Committee Meetings
30 Apr: Time to table the EU double standards on foodstuffs
2-3 May: European Parliament plenary session
2-3 May: EU AgriResearch conference
3 May: European Parliament Committee Meetings
3-4 May: Enlargement Day 2018
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary