Euroscope - September 2024
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1/ The European Commission signs the first international treaty on artificial intelligence
On 5 September 2024, in Vilnius (Lithuania), Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Values and Transparency, signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI on behalf of the European Union. This is a key step in the regulation of AI, as the convention is the first legally binding international agreement, following almost two years of negotiations between European countries. The aim of the treaty is to ensure that AI systems do not pose a threat to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, while enabling innovation. This work is in line with the efforts of the European Union (EU AI Act) and other international players such as the OECD, the G7, the G20 and UNESCO. Other non-European countries have also signed the treaty, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Mexico.
2/ Mario Draghi publishes his report on European competitiveness
On 9 September 2024, Mario Draghi, Italian economist and former President of the European Central Bank, presented his 400-page report on the EU's competitiveness, proposing 170 recommendations. The report focuses on three main actions. First, in order to close the innovation gap with the US and China, it is essential to keep European unicorns in Europe and invest in the skills of the population. Secondly, joint borrowing and public-private investment should reach €800 billion a year, increasing the EU's share of investment by 5%. Thirdly, it is essential for the EU to reduce its dependence on raw materials and energy sources by concluding prudent and defensive trade agreements, in the interests of the Union.
3/ Google is fined €2.4 billion by the Court of Justice of the EU in an antitrust case
On 10 September 2024, in Luxembourg, the CJEU fined Google €2.4 billion. It all started in 2017, when the European Commission found that Google was giving preferential treatment in Google search results, showing its own shopping services to the detriment of rival offerings. As a result, the Commission decided to fine Google, but the US company appealed to the EU General Court to overturn the decision. Unsuccessful, Google appealed to the CJEU. The Court of Justice of the EU delivered its verdict on 10 September 2024, aligning itself with the Commission's 2017 decision to fine Google €2.4 billion for anti-competitive practices. The case is considered a landmark in the history of regulatory action, being one of the first cases against a major digital company and reinforcing the credibility of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Case-law (CJEU): C-48/22P
4/ Apple is fined €13 billion by the Court of Justice of the EU in a state-aid case
On 10 September 2024, in Luxembourg, on the same day that the CJEU fined Google, the Court of Justice of the EU fined Apple. This case is a little older than Google's, as in 2014, the European Commission began investigating the ‘tax rulings’ granted to Apply by the Irish tax authorities, with a view to possible state aid. Two years later, this state aid was confirmed and Apple was fined. In response, Ireland and Apple appealed to the Court of First Instance to overturn the Commission's decision. In 2020, they were successful in having the order set aside. The Commission then appealed to the CJEU, which on 10 September 2024 upheld the Commission's 2016 decision that Ireland had granted Apple unlawful aid. The Court ordered Ireland to recover up to €13 billion from Apple. Commission Vice-President Margarethe Vestager said the case was a victory for tax justice and transparency.
Case-law (CJEU): C-465/20P
5/ Ursula von der Leyen presents her new team to form the College of Commissioners for 2024-2029
A few weeks after Ursula von der Leyen secured a second term as President of the Commission, her first task was to put together her team of Commissioners. She presented her list on 17 September 2024 and the next step is for MEPs to form an opinion on the candidates, then confirm or reject them. To do this, hearings will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. If the hearings take place between 14 and 18 October, the final vote on the list of candidates will take place on 24 October and the new Commission will take office on 1 November. If the hearings take place between 4 and 12 November, the final vote will take place in the last week of November and the new Commission will take office on 1 December. One of these dates will be set at the Conference of Committee Chairs on Tuesday 1 October 2024.
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