Digital Law Up(to)date: Towards a European electronic chips sovereignty
The European Commission published a European Chips Act to confront semiconductors shortages and strengthen the technological leadership of the European Union.
On 8 February 2022, the European Commission published its European Chips Act, which is in fact a set of texts relating to semiconductors. The objectives of the Commission is to confront semiconductors shortages, strengthen Europe’s technological leadership, and move towards the digital sovereignty.
Four texts have been published (see here):
- A Communication from the Commission entitled “A Chips Act for Europe”;
- A proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act);
- A proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe, as regards the Chips Joint Undertaking;
- A Commission Recommendation on a common Union toolbox to address semiconductor shortages and an EU mechanism for monitoring the semiconductor ecosystem.
The initiative follows a joint declaration signed in December 2020 by 22 Member States to work together towards bolstering Europe's electronics and embedded systems value chain and strengthen leading-edge manufacturing capacity. The new measures will now help Europe achieve its 2030 Digital Decade targets of having 20% of global chips market share by 2030.
This article was co-authored by Edouard Cruysmans in his capacity of Professional Support Lawyer at Stibbe.
