Intensive Training on Data Protection & EU Funding for the Digital Single Market
Date: 07 December 2015
Time: 09:00
Duration: 2 days
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Cost: 1550 €
Organiser: Lexxion Legal Publisher
Web Link: http://www.lexxion.eu/training/eu-funds/edpl
Description:
Introduction “Europe’s Digital Single Market Strategy could boost growth and create 3.8 million jobs per year, and central to making it a reality are the European Structural and Investment Funds. More than EUR 20 billion will be available from the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund during 2014-2020 to invest in the building blocks of the Digital Single Market” (Commissioner Corina Crețu, in European Commission, panorama 2015 No. 53).
In order to receive EU funding, several requirements have to be fulfilled. Under the reformed Cohesion Policy, national and regional authorities will be required to develop strategies for digital growth, as an element within their broader research and innovation strategies, in order to receive funding for investments in ICT products and services. Member States have to define Next Generation Plans identifying the areas in need for public funding to provide broadband access.
Also, projects have to be technically feasible and also not infringe the rules of competition. Respect for the EU State aid framework is a significant issue.In areas where the market does not deliver the necessary infrastructure investment, the use of State aid is permitted subject to assessment.
At the same time, the expansion of digital services and the use of big data comes with many questions related to the protection and save storage and use of this data. The Commission will launch initiatives on the "free flow of data", and a European Cloud. As long as the General Data Protection Regulation is still being negotiated between the European institutions, national data protection systems have to ensure that these investments are being made in compliance with the national laws.
Thematic Scope:
- Funding priorities within Europe’s Digital Single Market Strategy
- Broadband infrastructure (“Next Generation Networks”) investments in rural areas (ERDF and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development): Financing Broadband
- Good practices and common mistakes
- Competition rules applicable for the Digital Single Market and digital infrastructure
- Legal framework of data protection: key concepts and principles of privacy, actors and proceduresI
- Latest developments and challenges in the field of personal data use and protection
- Peculiarities of data protection rules in the digital market
- Practical examples
