Platform Contracts: Legal Framework and User Protection

Digital platforms are a very important economic reality, also in consideration of the epidemiological emergency which has increased online daily transactions. When we talk about digital markets, we refer to the transformation of the markets, induced by the exploitation and use of new technologies, in which digital contracts are an increasingly widespread phenomenon. This paper aims to give some hints about such issue and its legal framework. There are different elements to be considered: contract requirements, weaker party protection, sharing economy and some issue about the so-called “zero price economy”. In short, the paper summarises some profiles of legal relevance of such topical and wide subject. Keywords: Digital single market; Platform contracts; Sharing economy; Weaker party protection; Zero price economy.

Market Definition in the Platform Economy

The article addresses the role market definition can play for EU competition practice in the platform economy. The focus is on intermediaries that bring together groups of users whose decisions are interdependent, which therefore are commonly referred to as ‘two-sided platforms’. We address challenges to market definition that accompany these cross-group network effects, assess current practice in a number of competition cases, and provide guidance for adapting practice to properly account for the economic forces shaping markets with two-sided platforms. We ask whether and when a single market can be defined that encompasses both sides. We advocate a multi-markets approach that takes account of cross-market linkages, acknowledges the existence of zero-price markets, and properly accounts for the homing behaviour of market participants.

Has the euro been fattening the European pig meat trade?

The introduction of the euro is one of the great achievements of the European integration process. We ask whether the creation of the euro led to a significant increase in pig meat trade in the eurozone. The pig meat industry is the most important in the European meat sector, and the EU is the world's second-biggest producer of pork and the leading supplier of pig meat to the global market. No study has yet been conducted in this respect for this sector. Our results suggest that pig meat trade was encouraged between countries sharing the euro, although the impact of EU single market was still greater. Trade creation was also observed, increasing pig meat exports from eurozone to non-eurozone countries. Also, non-eurozone EU exporters suffer from a diversion effect that benefits eurozone exporters.

Baldwin versus Cecchini revisited: the growth impact of the European Single Market

The European Single Market created a common market for millions of Europeans. However, 30 years after its introduction, it appears that the benefits of the common European project are occasionally being questioned at least by some parts of the population. Others, by contrast, strive for deeper integration. Against this background, we empirically gauge the growth effect that arose from the Single Market. Using the synthetic control method, we establish the growth premium for the Single Market overall and for its founding members. Broadly in line with the predictions made by Richard Baldwin at the onset of the Single Market project, we find significantly higher real GDP per capita for the overall Single Market area of around 12–22 %. In comparison, smaller EU Member States seem to have benefited somewhat more compared to larger countries. The estimated growth effects underline the case for further deepening and broadening the Single Market where possible.

Digital Agenda, New Technologies and Education for the Integration of Europe: an Economic Study

New technologies are a key factor for integration in Europe by enabling citizens to solve their daily problems and interact with people everywhere. The European Commission established the Digital Agenda for Europe with the aim of improving the speed of navigation, establishing a single market for telecommunications and achieving a digital single market. We highlight the importance of applying new technologies in the field of education, since teaching and learning through these means will contribute to increasing creativity and reasoning capacity, allowing for more interactive and participative learning. The Horizon Report and the new emerging technologies proposed by that report are analysed, and are aimed not only at facilitating learning, but also at enabling a more integrated Europe. It also presents some technological ideas to be developed in the educational field that will enhance the development and integration of the EU Member States. Furthermore, in order to analyse the influence of the use of the Internet and new technologies on other socio-economic variables, a regression analysis has been carried out. The objective is to study whether in any way the fact that citizens use the Internet affects variables such as Gross Domestic Product, unemployment or Human Development Index which may affect the integration of Europe.

Poland in the European Union Single Market

Subject and purpose of work: This paper studies the process of integration of Poland in the EU Single Market. It makes use of official statistics from a wide range of institutions (IMF, OECD, Eurostat, and Statistics Poland) in order to define structural patterns, shedding light on the overall integration of the country with the rest of the world. Materials and methods: The results show the structural evolution of the Polish economy, mainly in terms of its integration process within the EU Single Market. Results: The Single Market has indeed provided an urge for Poland’s integration. Conclusions: Poland can so far be considered a success story in the process of integration in the EU Single Market.

Article 8—Use of Out-of-commerce Works and Other Subject Matter by Cultural Heritage Institutions

This chapter talks about Article 8 of Directive 2019/790, the European copyright directive in the Digital Single Market, which outlines provisions on the use of out-of-commerce works and other subject matter by cultural heritage institutions. It mentions the collective management organization that may conclude a non-exclusive licence for non-commercial purposes with a cultural heritage institution for the reproduction, distribution, and communication to the public or making available to the public of out-of-commerce works or other subject matter that are permanently in the collection of the institution. It also mentions the guarantee that all rightholders have equal treatment in relation to the terms of the licence. The chapter points out the liberty of rightholders to exclude their works or other subject matter from the licensing. It describes a work or other subject matter that is deemed to be out-of-commerce when it can be presumed that is not available to the public through customary channels of commerce.

Article 15—Protection of Press Publications Concerning Online Uses

This chapter explores the protection of press publications concerning online uses, which is outlines in Article 15 of Directive 2019/790, the European copyright directive in the Digital Single Market. It talks about publishers of press publications established in a Member State with that have the rights for the online use of their press publications by information society service providers. It also clarifies that authors of works incorporated in a press publication may receive an appropriate share of the revenues that press publishers receive for the use of their press publications by information society service providers. The chapter describes a free and pluralist press that is essential to ensure quality journalism and citizens' access to information. It examines the wide availability of press publications online that has given rise to the emergence of new online services, such as news aggregators or media monitoring services.