Activities of Lieve WIERINCK related to 2018/2085(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on Blockchain: a forward-looking trade policy
Amendments (16)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. - Whereas Blockchain in itself is not an application, but the technology behind its applications;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. Whereas Blockchain is a disruptive technology with a potentially disruptive impact on different stakeholders around the industries it affects;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas DLTs, and in particular blockchain, could optimise transparency and traceability, in turn building confidence and fostering competitiveness and the capacity for innovation in the EU; Whereas nodes within the Blockchain operate under a pseudonym, and can therefore, by definition not operate anonymously;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. - Whereas Blockchain’s inherent characteristics are automatic tracing, recognition, verification and supervision;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses that it is not desirable to legislate the Blockchain technology itself, but its applications instead. Notes that legislating the technology at the basis of the applications would limit innovation and the creation of new applications;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the potential of the integration of DLTs with other technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing, and calls for further research into their applicability to the digital transformation and automation of international trade; Welcomes the Commission proposal to set up the DigitalEurope Programme that will strengthen the EU΄s capacities for those technologies, as these are catalysts for blockchain technology;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Notes that Blockchain is becoming an important tool across various sectors and industries, notably in the financial sector and supply-chain modelling.
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Stresses that Blockchain could have a disruptive effect on employment in labour-intensive service industries; calls on the Commission to request a study on the potential impact on disruptive inter- and intra-industry employment evolution;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that smart contracts can be a key enabler of decentralised applications in international trade operations, but warns, at the moment, that the technology may not be sufficisuch as in balancing the energy market by helping supply to meet demand at the currently mature for regulation to be considered legally enforceablerket price through automatic smart contracts between prosumers, whom it fully empowers;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes the important role that this technology can play in the completion of the EU Energy Union; Recognises the challenge that energy consumption poses when using this technology; Notes that blockchain could be part of the solution by using more efficient algorithms, improving the efficiency of energy exchanges, enhancing the design and use of energy grids and decentralised energy production, contributing to the transformation of the energy markets;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to collaborate with Member States in coordinated actions using DLTs to improve monitoring, control, security and verification mechanisms to fight unlawful payments, facilitate anti-money laundering policies and detect misappropriation of assets; Notes that the technology can provide an alternative to the central supervisory authority in models where this authority cannot be trusted;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes that Blockchain can play an important role in the protection and sharing of intellectual property, specifically regarding the protection of the rights of the owner; Calls on the Commission to consider the role of Blockchain in the development of Smart IP Rights;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for measures to encourage SMEs and start-ups to explore the use of DLT to improve international trade operations and the development of an innovation ecosystem that reduces entry barriers and facilitates access to financing; Stresses blockchain's potential role in enhancing the level playing field for SME's through a reduction in the administrative burden; Emphasises that the developing industry around Blockchain brings new employment opportunities;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Emphasises that Blockchain can be used in applications of regulatory technologies (RegTech), significantly reducing compliance costs;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Highlights that the rise of a new industry around Blockchain comes with high efficiency gains and an increase in productivity;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the 'EU Blockchain and Observatory Forum' and eon the 1st of February 2018. Requests hereby the Commission to explore the possibility to expand the mandate of the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum in order to involve relevant stakeholders in the framework of addressing upcoming challenges; Encourages it to study applications aimed at facilitating international trade.