EU Legislative Proposals Face Stalemate Amidst Competing Interests
The European Commission’s 2022 draft law aimed at combating child sexual abuse material online may be scrapped as negotiations have stalled under successive EU presidencies, with Poland recently failing to reach a consensus. The divide among member states is stark: while some governments resist measures that could compromise encryption, others argue for their necessity, highlighting a deepening impasse, reports 24brussels.
Similarly, the Victims’ Rights Directive, which was heavily supported by the Polish presidency, has not progressed due to legislators’ concerns regarding its broader implications. This Directive, intended to establish fundamental rights and expectations for victims of crimes, appears unlikely to advance in the near future, according to two officials involved in its development.
Climate policy is also under scrutiny as the final segment of the Commission’s “Fit for 55” clean transition agenda remains unpassed. The update to the Energy Taxation Directive has become unfeasible without backing from EU member states, despite multiple compromise proposals. The directive, designed to standardize duties on fuels, raises fears among island nations regarding increased flight costs and has sparked intense lobbying for exceptions for private jets.
Financial Services Under Pressure
The Commission’s financial services authority is working to salvage several core proposals that have faced protracted delays of over two years. These include the Payment Services Directive, which aims to enhance Europe’s private payment sector, and the financial access to data framework (FiDA), intended to mandate banks to share data with customers and third parties.
Among these, FiDA is viewed as being in greater jeopardy. This proposal confronted significant pushback from banks and insurers, narrowly avoiding rejection earlier this year due to last-minute efforts by financial services chief Maria Luís Albuquerque.
“I would not be surprised if they have a go at it again,” commented the official. “It would be damaging for innovation and the data economy, but protecting incumbents may weigh more in the calculation.”
