European developments August 2017

The European Union’s Broadband Competence Offices Network Support Facility (BCO-SF) published new guidance on the financial tools that can boost broadband investment in support of Member States and private investors. These include European Structural and Investment Funds (the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Connecting Europe Broadband Fund.

Further to July’s update, Out-Law reported that the EU regulation on cross-border portability of online content services which was originally due to take effect on 20th March 2018 will now do so on 1st April 2018

Cyberwatching.eu, the European observatory of research and innovation in the field of cybersecurity and privacy, launched its Catalogue of Services which collects together  cybersecurity research and innovation (R&I) activities across the EU.

The Government launched a new consultation on the implementation of the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive in the UK from May 2018. The NIS Directive provides legal measures to boost network and information system security in the European Union. The consultation includes proposals for fining organisations which fail to implement effective cyber security measures up to £17 million or 4% of global turnover. The consultation closes on 30th September 2017. Also see commentary from Out-Law.

The Government announced a new statement of intent in relation to updating and strengthening data protection laws through a new Data Protection Bill, which will bring the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) into UK law.

The Government also published proposals for a shared approach on data protection to ensure that personal data can continue to move back and forth between the UK and the EU in the future in a safe, properly regulated way.