The European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (ECCD) have issued a statement in defence of the European Union's digital rules. In the statement, the Coalitions express their deep concern about the memorandum signed by the President of the United States on 21 February, which calls into question the European Union's digital rules and reopens the investigation into taxes on digital services under Section 301.
The ECCD describes this move by President Trump as aggressive, pointing out that it is "an unacceptable attack on the EU's regulatory sovereignty". The investigation directly targets key texts such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), and potentially other texts regulating digital technology.
The accusation from the US side is that these rules would hinder 'freedom of expression' or constitute 'extortion' of American companies. According to the coalitions, this undermines efforts to create a fair and transparent environment for all digital players, and in fact these rules do not target any particular company, but apply to all companies, US, European or not, without discrimination.
In the statement, the ECCD explains that these digital regulations aim to ensure a balanced framework that respects the Union's fundamental values, including the promotion of cultural diversity. "From the Audiovisual Media Services Directive to the Copyright Directive and the AI Regulation," says the ECCD, "the European Union has democratically put in place essential measures to ensure the vital local production and diversity of European creative works, to defend intellectual property, to ensure a level playing field for Europe's creative and cultural sectors in a global market and to guarantee fair remuneration for creators”.
The European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity call on the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament "to strongly reaffirm their commitment to fair regulations that protect European interests and guarantee the preservation of a dynamic cultural space rich in its diversity. They must refuse to dismantle policies already democratically implemented to achieve cultural diversity and not preemptively exclude any new initiative that the development of the digital economy might justify”.
“At a time when digital technology and artificial intelligence are profoundly transforming the cultural sectors” the statement concludes, “it is more crucial than ever that Europe remains a space which favours diverse creation and where cultural diversity, and the rights of creators and rights holders are guaranteed. The ECCD will remain vigilant and mobilised to defend these fundamental principles in the face of deregulation attempts and external pressures”.
The European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (ECCD) is an association of national coalitions which promotes the diversity of cultural expressions.
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