Digital Policy and the Strengthened Role of the European Central Executive. An Introductory Overview

Digitalisation has developed into a central political issue of the 21st century. The European Union is championing its distinctive “human-centric” model for the digital sphere amid growing concerns about disinformation, surveillance and excessive market power. Facing external challenges and perceived lagging in the digital economy has created a need to promote digitalisation in the EU, leading to policy changes and a redefined approach to internet governance. It has also led to institutional changes within the EU. To address the challenges of the digital economy, the EU adopted several legislative packages that ultimately changed the role of the Commission and gradually empowered a central executive. However, it is one thing to have more powers and another to use them responsibly. Therefore, more public intervention powers may require greater democratic control.