It is a rare occasion that a policy insider writes a book about what really happened. Most of the time, we have only the official communication and the odd little glimpse into the inside of the European policy mechanics. But now one retired EU civil servant has written a book, and on Netopia’s topics no less. Digital policies over four decades. Is making policy for the digital space possible? Author Detlef Eckert’s answer is yes, if done right. Watch the interview video and transcript below.
Transcript of video interview
Welcome to Netopia Spotlight with Detlef Eckert. My name is Per Strömbäck, and I’m here today with the newly published author, Detlef Eckert, for an exclusive interview with Netopia. Hello, Detlef, welcome to Netopia Spotlight.
Detlef: Hello.
Per: And you have just this autumn published a book. It’s called The 40 Years of European Digital Policies: Lessons Forgotten. Is that correct?
Detlef: Yeah, that’s correct.
Per: There it is. Excellent… The Pulitzer Prize winner, maybe?
Detlef: Well, we’ll see.
Per: Congratulations on the book! I have some questions about it, but maybe first—you have a long background in European digital policy. Can you tell us a little about your work life?
Detlef: Well, I started in the European Commission early in the 1990s, predominantly in the digital field. Back then, we didn’t call it “digital”—we called it ICT: Information Communication Technologies, Telecommunications, and Media. Those were the buzzwords at the time.
I worked in the digital field until 2002, when I took leave and worked at Microsoft for four years, mainly in cybersecurity. Afterward, I returned to the Commission and continued my digital journey. Later, I shifted focus slightly, but I always stayed connected to the digital realm. Toward the end of my career, I spent almost three years in China to experience another country and culture. That’s when the idea of the book emerged.
Per: So what was the idea? What was the spark behind the book, and what do you hope to achieve with it?
Detlef: When I retired, I reflected on the current state of digital policies—particularly under the Von der Leyen Commission—and realised many narratives and aspirations were repeating. It was a sort of déjà vu. I thought it would be worthwhile to write about what has been learnt in the past.
Having been deeply involved in these policies over the years, I felt I had a comprehensive perspective. Whenever I shared my experiences with colleagues or friends, they often said, “You should write this down.” So I did.
The book is a historical account written as a story. It doesn’t include tables, graphs, or exhaustive details about directives and regulations. Instead, it provides a holistic overview of how digital policies evolved in Europe and offers lessons that could inform today’s policymaking. It’s a summary and a story, and as such, it doesn’t exist anywhere else.
After four decades of digital policies, why is Europe more dependent on external technology—particularly American and Asian—than ever before
Per: That’s a valuable contribution to understanding the digital policy landscape. But the subtitle, Lessons Forgotten, has a hint of sarcasm. What do you mean by that?
Detlef: That subtitle reflects one of the main reasons I wrote the book. Over the years, I’ve seen narratives and initiatives repeated without pro-reflection on past experiences. We don’t seem to ask, “What did we learn before?” There’s another path of dependence—policies continuing on autopilot.
Two key questions come to mind:
1. After four decades of digital policies, why is Europe more dependent on external technology—particularly American and Asian—than ever before?
2. Why does digital technology not appear in productivity statistics as a transformative force?
Despite significant investments and efforts, Europe’s market share and contribution to digital innovation have declined. Understanding the forces behind this trend is crucial.
Per: Solow’s paradox—that technology is everywhere except in productivity statistics—still holds true?
Detlef: Yes, it does. There was a measurable impact of ICT on productivity in the 1990s and early 2000s in the U.S., but not in Europe. Various explanations exist: measurement issues, time lags as society adapts to new technologies, or inadequate complementary investments like infrastructure and skills. Institutions, education systems, and infrastructure need to adjust for digital technology to reach its potential.
While necessary, regulation alone won’t drive competitiveness or innovation. For that, we need complementary investments and structural reforms
Per: So, is it even possible to regulate the digital world effectively?
Detlef: Yes, but it depends on the type of regulation. Over time, European digital regulation has evolved in three layers:
1. Enabling regulation: Policies that created internal markets for e-commerce, liberalised telecommunications, and fostered market competition.
2. Accommodating regulation: adapting existing rules (e.g., copyright, consumer protection) to the digital age.
3. Protective regulation: Focusing on risk management, as seen with AI regulations.
While necessary, regulation alone won’t drive competitiveness or innovation. For that, we need complementary investments and structural reforms.
Europe must embrace innovation and entrepreneurial risk-taking more wholeheartedly.
Per: What about competition? How does it factor into your analysis?
Detlef: Competition is critical, especially in digital markets dominated by network effects that favour monopolies. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) seeks to address this by targeting gatekeepers—platforms with dominant positions. It builds on telecom liberalisation principles, aiming to create fairer marketplaces. But implementing these rules effectively remains challenging.
Per: What are your thoughts on improving Europe’s productivity?
Detlef: Focus on complementary investments—education, skills, infrastructure—and foster a culture of entrepreneurship. Structural reform is crucial. Europe must embrace innovation and entrepreneurial risk-taking more wholeheartedly. Programs alone won’t suffice; we need a mindset shift.
Per: Thank you for sharing your insights, Detlef, and for contributing to the discussion on Europe’s digital future. To our viewers, thank you for watching this Netopia Spotlight interview with Detlef Eckert