Five Commissioners will meet tomorrow in Brussels with representatives of online platforms to discuss progress made in tackling the spread of illegal content online, including online terrorist propaganda and xenophobic, racist or hate speech as well as breaches of intellectual property rights.

The meeting will be a good opportunity for a frank and open exchange about progress made and lessons learned. Vice-President Andrus Ansip, Commissioners Dimitris Avramopoulos, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Věra Jourová, Julian King and Mariya Gabriel said ahead of the meeting:

“Terrorist propaganda and content that incites violence and hatred online is a serious threat to security, safety and fundamental rights. It demands a collective response – from all actors, including the internet industry.

In recent years, online platforms have significantly increased the resources they devote to removing violent and extremist content as soon as possible, including through automated removal.

This is starting to achieve results. However, even if tens of thousands of pieces of illegal content have been taken down, there are still hundreds of thousands more out there. And removal needs to be speedy: the longer illegal material stays online, the greater its reach, the more it can spread and grow. Building on the current voluntary approach, more efforts and progress have to be made.

The Commission is counting on online platforms to step up and speed up their efforts to tackle these threats quickly and comprehensively, including closer cooperation with national and enforcement authorities, increased sharing of know-how between online players and further action against the reappearance of illegal content.

We will continue to promote cooperation with social media companies to detect and remove terrorist and other illegal content online, and if necessary, propose legislation to complement the existing regulatory framework.”

Background

While online platforms play a key role in innovation and growth in the digital economy, they also carry a significant societal responsibility in terms of protecting users and society at large – and in particular in preventing criminals, terrorists and other persons involved in infringing activities online from exploiting their services.

The EU Internet Forum was launched in December 2015 by the European Commission. It brings together EU Home Affairs Ministers, the internet industry and other stakeholders to work together in a voluntary partnership to address this complex issue and to protect EU citizens.

In December 2016, at the EU Internet Forum, internet companies announced the creation of a shared ‘Database of Hashes’ to better detect potential terrorist content on social media and prevent its reappearance on other platforms. Major platforms are increasingly developing automatic tools for detection and removal of terrorist content online. In December 2017 the third Ministerial meeting of the EU Internet Forum pushed for automatic detection of terrorist propaganda

In May 2016, the European Commission and four major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft) announced a Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech.

An evaluation carried out by NGOs and public bodies in 24 Member States, released in June 2017, showed that the companies have made significant progress in following up on their commitments. On average, in 59% of the cases, the IT companies responded to notifications concerning illegal hate speech by removing the content. This is more than twice the level that was recorded six months earlier. The next evaluation is due to be published in the coming weeks.

In June 2017, the European Council further called on the industry to develop new technology and tools to improve the automatic detection and removal of content that incites to terrorist acts, to be complemented by the relevant legislative measures at EU level, if necessary.

Following up on this call, the Commission set out in September 2017 guidelines and principles for online platforms to increase the proactive prevention, detection and removal of illegal content online.

In October 2017 the Commission adopted its Work Programme for 2018 committing to continue to promote cooperation with social media companies to detect and remove terrorist and other illegal content online.

For More Information

Press release

Communication “Tackling illegal content online – towards an enhanced responsibility of online platforms”

EMIR requires CCPs to monitor and account for procyclical effects of margins and make disclosures on its risk management practices including the models they use for the calculation of margins. CCPs also need to implement anti-procyclicality margin measures.

The guidelines are addressed to national competent authorities that supervise CCPs authorised under EMIR and seek to promote consistent and uniform application of EMIR and its RTS on:

• the monitoring of margin procyclicality;
• the implementation of anti-procyclicality margin measures; and
• the disclosures to facilitate margin predictability.

The draft guidelines address the observations made in the EMIR Review Report No. 2 on the efficiency of margin requirements to limit procyclicality and the 2016 Peer Review on the Supervisory activities on CCP’s Margin and Collateral requirements.

ESMA seeks stakeholders’ feedback by 28 February 2018 and will use the feedback received to finalise the guidelines by the first half of 2018.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Peter Sutherland, former European Commissioner, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and Attorney General of Ireland.

In every sense of the word Peter Sutherland was a true European. He believed strongly in the work of the European Union and other international organisations and their importance for cooperation and international dialogue. He was one of the founding fathers of the Erasmus programme and was  instrumental in shaping our internal market in the early days and competition policy as we know it today.

Above all, Peter Sutherland reflected the core values of the European spirit in his everyday work and was convinced that by working together, great things can be achieved.

His contribution internationally to business, politics, migration and human rights will not be forgotten. He was a giant of Irish, European and international public life. He will be deeply missed.

My deepest sympathies and thoughts go to his family and friends.”

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Commissioner Stylianides to meet with Ministers of Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Belgium on rescEU, the EU’s civil protection proposal

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianidesmeets today with the Interior Minister of Luxembourg, Mr Dan Kersch. He will subsequently travel to the Netherlands to meet with the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security, Mr Ferdinand Grapperhaus, on 8 January, before meeting the Belgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Security and Home Affairs in charge of Urban Policy and State Buildings, Mr Jan Jambon, on 9 January. During the meetings the Commissioner will present and discuss rescEU, the Commission’s ambitious new plan to strengthen Europe’s ability to deal with natural disasters. A more robust civil protection mechanism will enable the EU to better support all Member States in responding to natural and man-made disasters. The Commission proposal was announced on 23 November 2017 and focuses on two strands of action: 1) Strengthening European response capacities: rescEU and 2) Stepping up disaster prevention and preparedness. The proposal also aims to simplify administrative procedures in order to reduce the time needed to deploy life-saving assistance. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz de Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Concentrations: la Commission autorise l’acquisition du contrôle en commun de Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge Hotel par Starwood Capital Group et Accor-Pannonia Hotels

La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l’acquisition du contrôle en commun de Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge Hotel par Starwood Capital Group et Accor-Pannonia Hotels. Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge Hotel est un hôtel de luxe (5 étoiles) situé à Budapest, Hongrie. Starwood Capital Group est une société d’investissement dont le siège social est situé aux Etats-Unis et dont l’activité principale est l’immobilier international. Accor-Pannonia est une société immatriculée en Hongrie qui détient et gère des hôtels en Hongrie. Elle appartient à un groupe de sociétés contrôlé par Accor S.A situé en France. La Commission a conclu que l’opération envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence compte tenu de son impact limité sur la structure du marché. L’opération a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure simplifiée du contrôle des concentrations. De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d’affaire M.8718. (Pour plus d’informations: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Eurostat: Novembre 2017 comparé à octobre 2017 – Les prix à la production industrielle en hausse de 0,6% dans la zone euro et dans l’UE28

En novembre 2017 par rapport à octobre 2017, les prix à la production industrielle ont augmenté de 0,6% tant dans la zone euro (ZE19) que dans l’UE28, selon les estimations d’Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. En octobre 2017, les prix avaient crû de 0,4% dans les deux zones. En novembre 2017 par rapport à novembre 2016, les prix à la production industrielle ont progressé de 2,8% dans la zone euro et de 3,1% dans l’UE28. Un communiqué de presse est en ligne ici. (Pour plus d’information: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Maud Noyon – Tel.: +32 229 80379; Victoria von Hammerstein – Tel.: +32 229 55040)

Eurostat: Le taux d’inflation annuel de la zone euro en baisse à 1,4%

Le taux d’inflation annuel de la zone euro est estimé à 1,4% en décembre 2017, contre 1,5% en novembre 2017, selon une estimation rapide publiée par Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. S’agissant des principales composantes de l’inflation de la zone euro, l’énergie devrait connaître le taux annuel le plus élevé en décembre (3,0%, comparé à 4,7% en novembre), suivie de l’alimentation, alcool & tabac (2,1%, comparé à 2,2% en novembre), des services (1,2%, stable comparé à novembre) et des biens industriels hors énergie (0,5%, comparé à 0,4% en novembre). Un communiqué de presse est en ligne ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Juliana Dahl – Tel.: +32 229 59914)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Oettinger launches High-Level conference on “Shaping Our Future – Designing the Next MFF”

Ahead of the College debate on the European Union’s long-term budget, the Commissioner for Budget and Human resources, Günther H. Oettinger launches a High-Level conference on “Shaping Our Future – Designing the Next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)”, which is hosted by the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC), the Commission’s in-house think tank on 8 and 9 January. This conference opens the final stretch of preparing the next multi annual financial framework, before the Leaders’ informal meeting in February and the Commission’s proposal which will be presented in May 2018. The full programme and the list of the high-profile speakers including, from the Commission, President Jean-Claude Juncker, Vice President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competition, Jyrki Katainen and Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu can be found here. The conference will take place in the Commission’s Charlemagne building. Registrations are now closed but accredited journalists can register on the day of the conference and the event can be followed online on EbS. During the conference, you can share your views by using the hashtag #EUBudget on Twitter.  (For more information: Alexander Winterstein – Tel.: +32 229 93265; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740, Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Calendar

The Commissioners’ weekly activities

Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)