Opening Pandora’s Box: Why did the European Commission launch the Digital Single Market strategy?
Author
Karklina, Anna
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-05-31
Abstract
This thesis examines why the European Commission launched the Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy on 6 May 2015—a flagship initiative under Jean‑Claude Juncker that the Commission estimates could add up to EUR 415 billion and extend the four freedoms to the online sphere. Beyond consumer-benefit arguments, the study adopts two perspectives: (1) theories of agenda-setting and competence maximization within EU institutions and (2) an assessment of how stakeholder dissatisfaction with market fragmentation shaped key DSM components and how the Commission has responded. The theoretical framework draws on neofunctionalism (including functional, political, and cultivated spillover), approaches to supranational governance, and competence-maximization models. Empirically, the analysis uses Commission policy documents (e.g., Communications and Green Papers) and outputs from public consultations, relying primarily on the Commission’s summary reports to manage volume; where no summary was available, a small, varied sample of published responses was reviewed. Six focal areas illustrate major barriers and expectations addressed by DSM: cross-border e-commerce and parcel delivery, VAT, unjustified geo-blocking, cross-border portability of digital content, and personal data protection. The aim is to explain the timing and design of DSM at the intersection of institutional incentives and stakeholder pressures. Specific findings are not presented in this excerpt.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvorfor Europa-Kommissionen lancerede strategien for det digitale indre marked (DSM) den 6. maj 2015—et centralt politisk projekt under Jean‑Claude Juncker, der ifølge Kommissionen kan bidrage med op til 415 mia. EUR og sikre, at de fire friheder også fungerer online. Ud over forklaringen om øgede forbrugerfordele anlægges to perspektiver: (1) teorier om dagsordensfastsættelse og kompetencemaksimering i EU-institutioner og (2) en analyse af, hvordan interessenters utilfredshed med fragmentering har præget udvalgte elementer af DSM, samt i hvilken grad Kommissionen har reageret herpå. Teoretisk bygger specialet på neofunktionalisme (herunder funktionelt, politisk og kultiveret spillover), tilgange til supranational styring og modeller for kompetencemaksimering. Empirisk baseres analysen på Kommissionens politikdokumenter (fx meddelelser og grønne bøger) samt resultater fra offentlige høringer, primært via Kommissionens sammenfattende rapporter for at håndtere store datamængder; hvor sådanne manglede, er et mindre, varieret udsnit af offentliggjorte svar inddraget. Seks centrale problemfelter i DSM belyses som illustrative eksempler på barrierer og forventninger: grænseoverskridende e‑handel og pakkedistribution, moms, uberettiget geoblokering, grænseoverskridende portabilitet af digitalt indhold og beskyttelse af personoplysninger. Analysen søger dermed at forklare timing og udformning af DSM i krydsfeltet mellem institutionelle incitamenter og interessentpres. Konkrete resultater præsenteres ikke i dette uddrag.
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