#ZPPEU

Official account: Representation of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP) to the European Union

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Commission has presented the Technological Sovereignty Package!

The Package consists of the Chips Act 2.0, the Cloud and AI Development Act, the Open Source Strategy, and a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. Together, these legislative proposals and strategies are meant to strengthen Europe’s capacity to produce the enabling technologies that can allow it to be a global leader in AI development, while also maintaining the EU’s digital autonomy in the face of growing geopolitical uncertainties.

Read the full press release here:
https://t.co/m5YdeiHZfC

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The highlights of this week’s European Parliament plenary session!

New protective trade measures to shield the EU steel industry from global overcapacity were approved. The regulation reduces tariff-free import quotas by 47% and imposes a 50% customs duty on any steel imported above these limits. Additionally, it introduces new rules for product traceability and the prevention of third countries circumventing the quotas, while granting a special status to protect Ukraine's steel industry. Read the announcement here: https://t.co/wMfVAGEpjP

MEPs have given their greenlight on stricter rules for the screening of foreign investments to protect sensitive EU sectors (e.g. defense, AI, semiconductors, and critical raw materials) from security risks. The new law streamlines national screening cooperation and is supported by the proposed IAA. Read the press release here: https://t.co/bFM7w4U5lL

An own-initiative report on the integration of artificial intelligence into the EU’s trade policy to boost supply chain efficiency and the competitiveness of European tech companies was adopted. It emphasises the need for international trade agreements to strictly enforce compliance with the EU AI Act, while calling on the EU to leverage its geopolitical influence to set democratic global standards for AI governance through bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Read the Report here: https://t.co/DWDXJ1BV99

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Parliament and Council of the EU have reached a provisional agreement on the Digital Omnibus on AI!

This morning, legislators agreed on amendments to the proposed simplification of the AI Act. Key adjustments from the original proposal include:
🔹A fixed timeline for the delay of application for rules regarding high-risk AI systems to December 2027
🔹A new provision banning nudification apps
🔹Exemptions for industrial AI applications, meaning they would only be affected by sectoral laws

The agreement will now require the approval of the Parliament and Council before it can be formally adopted. ZPP will continue to monitor this negotiation closely, to ensure that the final form of the EU’s simplified AI legislation is as conducive for European businesses as possible.

Read the full press release here:
https://t.co/nCr0hUWZlj

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

This week, the ZPP Brussels team attended the EU-Ukraine Business Summit!

The discussions have explored areas of possible greater cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in fields such as crossborder transport, energy, critical raw materials, defence, and more. Of particular note was the concluding panel of the conference, which covered the vital role of Polish border regions in supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction.

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Commission dedicates €1.5 billion to bolstering the EU and Ukrainian defence industries!

Yesterday, the Commission announced a new work programme under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) for modernising Europe’s defence industry, boosting its production capacities, and strengthening its innovation. The funding allocation is as follows:

- Over €700 million for production of key components (e.g. counter-drone systems and ammunition), of which €260 million will be invested in collaborative projects with Ukraine.
- €325 million earmarked for collaborative industrial projects.
- €240 million for joint procurement projects, with grants of up to €20 million per project.
- €100 million equity boost to SMEs and small mid-caps via the FAST instrument.

This is an important step forward for ensuring Europe’s defence readiness in the face of geopolitical uncertainties. We urge you to read our previous publications on Europe’s defence industry to contextualise the significance of this decision.

Commission press release:
https://t.co/EcVIEeYHXU

ZPP Position on the Proposed Military Mobility Regulation:
https://t.co/wN05PfETRj

Press Release from our recent event “European Defence at the Frontier: Unmanned Systems and Strategic Readiness”:
https://t.co/RjZPsmLZ6M

ZPP Policy Brief on the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030:
https://t.co/B7XW0wcIWn

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

Two new and important policy developments from the European Commission!

The new Programme for agile and rapid defence innovation (AGILE) is intended to expedite the transition from research to deployment for disruptive defence technologies such as AI, drones, and quantum computing. With €115 million in funding intended for 20-30 projects as well as targeted support for market access, AGILE would provide substantial support for upcoming SMEs in the sector, ensuring that Europe can maintain its technological edge and strengthen its security.

Read the press release here: https://t.co/3wVMHUeH5F

Additionally, the Commission announced that €34.6 billion in Member States’ cohesion funding will be reallocated to align them with the EU’s strategic priorities. In light of geopolitical developments since the setting of the cohesion budget for the 2021-2027 period, investments will be redirected towards providing further support for innovation, competitiveness, and defence capacities. To a lesser extent, there will also be greater support for affordable housing and water and energy resilience.

Read the press release here:
https://t.co/3IpWZOI2nc

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Commission has presented its proposal for EU Inc., a new corporate framework for European start-ups!

This new harmonised ruleset would help European entrepreneurs attempting to navigate the overlapping complexities presented by differing national legislation. Through a digitalised, single platform, founders would be able to register their companies in less than 48 hours and at costs lower than €100. They would not need to face the burden of resubmitting paperwork or dealing with in-person formalities.

ZPP will follow the developments of this initiative closely, to ensure it will have a positive impact on European entrepreneurs and the Single Market.

Read the Commission's press release here:
https://t.co/7ORkcTebsi

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The Industrial Accelerator Act proposal is out!

Today, the European Commission presented their proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), a new initiative for strengthening the EU’s industrial base. The IAA would grant European-made and low-carbon products preferential treatment for projects funded through public procurement, simplifying their permit-granting procedures and subsequently boosting demand. Additionally, the proposal seeks to protect Europe’s economic sovereignty through stricter conditions for foreign direct investments in certain strategic sectors.

ZPP strongly supports the IAA’s objectives of supporting EU-based manufacturers, and we are optimistic that it will have a positive impact on European competitiveness. We urge you to read our previous overview of the IAA to further familiarise yourself with the contents of the Act.

European Commission press release:
https://t.co/lG8XsMJvLa

ZPP Overview of the Industrial Accelerator Act:
https://t.co/3Z7fjdPakC

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

Today, the Omnibus I simplification package received the final green light for adoption!

Following a decision from the Council of the EU, the amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will be adopted. The changes will most notably raise the thresholds for reporting requirements so that only the largest companies will be affected, thus freeing the vast majority of European businesses from needless administrative burden.

ZPP played an important role in the shaping of the Omnibus I package, as we led a coalition of 19 associations from across Europe in a Call to Action ensuring that the package would be as helpful for businesses as possible. This is a clear indication of the impact European industry can have when we work together!

Read the Council’s announcement:
https://t.co/jjKAWWT1rk

Read out Call to Action:
https://t.co/t8aUBMxcko

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

📢 Europe is betting on production and innovation!

ZPP welcomes the Industrial Accelerator Act, a law designed to accelerate the development of European industry, simplify permit procedures, and support “Made in Europe” and low-carbon products.

Learn more about the Act and its objectives: https://t.co/3Z7fjdPakC

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Commission has presented its strategy for supporting the EU's eastern regions!

This strategy targets countries along the border of Russia and Belarus such as Poland, and seeks to provide support for their resilience, economic growth, and connectivity. To this end, initiatives include the development of flagship projects under the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 (read our brief below for more information), facilitating access to funds, improving cross-border infrastructure, and more.

Protecting regional cohesion is a necessity for ensuring that the prosperity of the EU does not just extend to the most affluent regions, but rather that every European citizen has the opportunity to thrive. It is only through helping those regions currently facing struggles that authorities can secure the future of Europe’s economic development and competitiveness.

Read the announcement here:
https://t.co/8LKsU4vZOi

Read our Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 position here:
https://t.co/B7XW0wcIWn

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

On behalf of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP), and European Enterprise Alliance (@EEA_Brussels), we were pleased to convene an expert roundtable at the European Parliament last Tuesday, at a moment when EU digital policy is moving decisively from stock-taking in 2025 to implementation and strategic choices in 2026.

The discussion, Digital Policy Outlook 2026, enabled a focused exchange on how recent regulatory shifts are already shaping Europe’s digital ecosystem, with particular attention to competitiveness, digital infrastructure, AI and technological sovereignty.

Much of the conversation centred on the cumulative impact of the AI Act, the enforcement phase of the DSA, the Digital Omnibus agenda and recently published Digital Networks Act, highlighting the importance of policy coherence across files.

The roundtable was hosted by Michał Kobosko, MEP Renew (@michalkobosko), with keynote addresses by Dariusz Standerski, PhD (@DStanderski), Secretary of State at the Ministry of Digital Affairs Poland (@CYFRA_GOV_PL), and Jakub Boratyński, Director of Compliance and Responsible Business Conduct at the European Commission’s DG.GROW (@EU_Growth).

We were also grateful for the perspectives shared and the special remarks delivered by Jakub Bińkowski (@kubabinkowski), Vice-President, Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers.

Our sincere thanks go to all participants for their substantive contributions:
Anna Mazur, Head of the Brussels Office, Allegro (@Allegro_Group)
Michał Lutek, Senior Public Policy Manager, CEE, Bolt (@boltapp)
Artur Bogucki, Associate Researcher, Centre for European Policy Studies (@CEPS_thinktank)
Clara Lemaire, Director, EU Public Policy Government Affairs, Cisco (@Cisco)
Michał Bylicki, Tender Sales & Account Management Director, CloudFerro (@CloudFerro)
Laura Pascual Trujillo, Senior Analyst, Google (@Google)
Anissa Kemiche, Director, European and International Affairs, Numeum (@numeum_)
Raphaël Daniel, EU Public Affairs Manager, OVHcloud (@OVHcloud)
Jan Pilewski, Public Policy Director, PLAY (@Play_Polska)
Marta Przywała, Lead AI and Cybersecurity Policy, EU Government Affairs, SAP (@SAP)
Eleanor Flanagan, Associate Director of Government Affairs, Spotify (@Spotify)
Ena Salihović, Senior Lead Public Affairs EU Tech, Zalando (@Zalando)

Moderated by Daniela Werbeniec, Director of the Digital Forum, Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers.

Read the full press release here: https://t.co/SxICoJ9rtT

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Commission has approved funding for defence projects in eight more Member States, including Poland!

Following the Commission’s assessment of their National Defence Investment Plan, Poland will now gain access to low-cost loans earmarked for acquiring modernised defence equipment. Poland will have the largest allocation of loans of any Member State with a requested €43.7 billion, which will serve as an invaluable boost for scaling up the country’s military preparedness.

Defence is a highly important topic for the ZPP, and we will continue monitoring the developments surrounding SAFE closely. In the meanwhile, we urge you to read up on our publications on other recent defence policy developments.

Find the Commission’s announcement of the SAFE loans approval here:
https://t.co/kfLsqtq2iT

ZPP Position on the Proposed Military Mobility Regulation:
https://t.co/wN05PfETRj

Press Release from our recent event “European Defence at the Frontier: Unmanned Systems and Strategic Readiness”:
https://t.co/RjZPsmLZ6M

ZPP Policy Brief on the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030:
https://t.co/B7XW0wcIWn

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

Our expert roundtable "Digital Policy Outlook 2026: What 2025 set in motion and what’s next for EU digital policy" is underway at the European Parliament (@Europarl_EN)!

Having been welcomed by our host MEP Michał Kobosko (@michalkobosko), Renew, and listened to keynote addresses from Secretary of State at the Ministry of Digital Affairs Poland (@CYFRA_GOV_PL) Dariusz Standerski, PhD (@DStanderski) and Director of Compliance and Responsible Business Conduct at the European Commission’s DG.GROW (@EU_Growth) Jakub Boratyński, as well as special remarks from ZPP Vice-President Jakub Bińkowski (@kubabinkowski), our panel of industry representatives and experts are not beginning their discussion on the future of EU digital policy.

Hosted by MEP Michał Kobosko.

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

Defence readiness is no longer an abstract policy debate. It is about whether Europe can deliver capabilities fast enough, at scale, and across borders.

In the ‘’Europe’s Defence Readiness 2030: Building a Real Single Market for Defence at Speed’’ episode of Policy in Action, Seyide Direk, Senior Analyst, Policy & Government Relations at European Enterprise Alliance (@EEA_Brussels), sits down with Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz (@Gasiuk_Pihowicz), Member of the European Parliament, to unpack what Defence Readiness 2030 means in practice. The conversation focuses on the gap between ambition and delivery, and on why fragmented rules, slow procedures, and disconnected markets continue to undermine Europe’s preparedness.

A recurring message is clear: without a functioning Single Market for Defence, readiness remains fragile. Speed, interoperability, and industrial cooperation are not secondary issues; they determine whether Europe can respond effectively in a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Building readiness by 2030 requires decisions and implementation today.

🔗 Link to the episode:
https://t.co/77wkiG3iEY

🎧 To listen on Spotify:
https://t.co/TGNxqzFAVF

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

Introducing our second keynote speaker for the expert roundtable "Digital Policy Outlook 2026: What 2025 set in motion and what’s next for EU digital policy": Jakub Boratyński, Director of Compliance and Responsible Business Conduct at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (@EU_Growth)!

Date: 27 January 2026
Time: 09:30 – 11:30
Venue: European Parliament, Brussels

Hosted by MEP Michał Kobosko (@michalkobosko).

Sign up here:
https://t.co/bjBimQifAb

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

The European Commission has presented the Digital Networks Act!

This proposal is intended to simplify rules on connectivity networks in the EU to reduce administrative burdens, while also modernising the legislative landscape to enable the rollout of advanced networks. In addition, the Act would improve the security and resilience of European networks by reducing dependencies and promoting EU-level cooperation.

Read more here:
https://t.co/Q56ycOfwm9

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

There’s still time to register for the expert roundtable “Digital Policy Outlook 2026: What 2025 set in motion and what’s next for EU Digital policy”!

Date: 27 January 2026
Time: 09:30 – 11:30
Venue: European Parliament, Brussels

Last year the EU’s digital policy landscape faced multiple major developments, including the AI Act, the Digital Omnibus Simplification Agenda, and the enforcement phase of the Digital Services Act, and more changes are on the horizon in 2026. This expert roundtable will take stock of what these developments meant and discuss what lies ahead this year. Key focus areas will include the Digital Networks Act’s role in reshaping the digital infrastructure market, how Europe can strengthen its technological sovereignty, and the evolving role of policymakers and industry in this new digital governance framework.

Hosted by MEP Michał Kobosko (@michalkobosko), with a keynote address by Dariusz Standerski (@DStanderski), Secretary of State at the Ministry of Digital Affairs Poland. Co-organised by the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers and the European Enterprise Alliance (@EEA_Brussels).

Sign up here:
https://t.co/bjBimQifAb

[#ZPPEU @ZPP_EU]

Following the Council’s approval today, an amendment to the Regulation on European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has been adopted to support AI development!

The amendment expands the scope of the Joint Undertaking, which serves to support the development and maintenance of computer infrastructure, to also facilitate the establishment of AI gigafactories through fostered cooperation and clarified funding and procurement rules. Additionally, the amended Regulation seeks to support the creation of a “European quantum ecosystem” to maximise the potential of Europe’s research and development capabilities.

Read more here:
https://t.co/VsmnP1sBgd