For Confident Enforcement of EU Digital Legislation in Defence of Democracy and Citizens

BlueLink calls on the European Commission, in its role as guardian of the EU treaties and leading authority responsible for the enforcement of EU digital legislation, to strengthen, accelerate and visibly reinforce its implementation across the European Union.

BlueLink supports the firm response of the European Commission to the visa restrictions imposed by the United States against European representatives and civil society organisations involved in the implementation of EU digital legislation. As stated by EU institutions, such measures should not undermine the EU’s freedom to design and enforce democratically adopted digital rules grounded in fundamental rights, the rule of law and the protection of the public interest. French President Emmanuel Macron rightly emphasised that digital regulation in the European Union is a matter of European sovereignty, democratic competence and the protection of citizens, and that the EU must confidently defend its own rules and institutional decisions.

At a time of heightened external pressure, military and digital aggression against the EU and its humanistic, green and democratic values, trust in a united Europe depends on the firm, consistent and timely enforcement of democratically adopted laws and rules. These form the EU’s common digital acquis and uphold the European model of digital governance in the interest of people, not the profits of multinational technology giants. This legal framework includes the Digital Services Act (DSA) and other key instruments protecting fundamental rights, democracy, media freedom and fair digital markets.

As a Bulgarian public-interest non-profit organisation and a member of the Association for Progressive Communications, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, and the Justice and Environment network, as well as a member of the Public Council to the Bulgarian Parliament's Committee on Digitalisation, E-Government and Information Technologies, BlueLink aligns itself with the common European position that digital legislation is neither optional nor symbolic. Its authority and public value depend on its real and consistent enforcement.

BlueLink recalls that EU digital legislation does not restrict lawful expression and does not exceed the territorial and democratic mandate of the European Union. The appropriate response to hostile attacks from outside and within is not regulatory hesitation, but the confident and lawful exercise of European law.

BlueLink supports an approach based on institutional consistency, the protection of European democratic competences and the pursuit of solutions through dialogue between partners. Delays, uneven enforcement or insufficient administrative and expert capacity undermine the ability of the EU and its Member States to protect citizens, ensure legal certainty and safeguard the resilience and integrity of the Digital Single Market.

For these reasons, BlueLink urges the European Commission to fully exercise its supervisory and enforcement powers, including within the established framework for DSA enforcement. In particular, we expect the Commission to:

• take decisive action to address systemic risks posed by very large online platforms;

• ensure consistent and uniform enforcement of EU digital legislation across all Member States;

• provide effective transparency and data-access mechanisms for vetted researchers, journalists and public-interest organisations;

• demonstrate in practice that EU digital rules are enforceable and subject to effective oversight.

BlueLink calls on Bulgarian institutions to defend EU digital legislation against interference and to publicly align with the position of the European Commission. This includes implementing the latest Commission calls for improved enforcement of EU digital legislation in Bulgaria, namely:

• appointing and ensuring the effective functioning of a national Digital Services Coordinator;

• building sustainable administrative and expert capacity;

• ensuring full participation in EU coordination and oversight mechanisms, including the network of Digital Services Coordinators.

Effective enforcement of EU digital legislation is a key prerequisite for fulfilling BlueLink’s mission – to promote the civic use of digital technologies in defence of democracy, environmental protection and the values of a united Europe. Disinformation and the concentration of digital power directly harm democratic public debate, responsible journalism and civic oversight of institutions and corporations.