The European Parliament and Digital Trade

Digitalization is the megatrend of the 21st century. It spurs path-breaking innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain enabled transactions, electronic commerce, and social media. While new technology – artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockhain – has permeated societies across the world; the technological development as well as its economic benefactors are primarily based in the US. The European Parliament (EP) has been an active voice in making digital trade a vital part of EU trade policy. Members of the EP have advocated measures that are aimed at preserving free trade in the digital realm, sheltering European economic interests as well as data protection standards. Thus, the question is what kind of influence EP is likely to exert. This paper explores the role of the European Parliament in shaping the EU’s digital trade agenda. By comparing a range of different dossier across the field of digitalization, we assess how the EP adjudicates the many issues at stake, what they are, which are the key priorities, and why? Identifying which interests, values and arguments shape digital policies will not only shed light on the determinants of the EU’s international role, but also deepen our understanding of the EP’s strategic choices in the context of both increasing trade protectionism and a new digital reality.