UACES General Conference 2026
Date:
Presented at the 56th UACES General Conference 2026 in Prague, this paper examined how European digital regulation is shaped by a globally decentred policy environment and how the European policy process functions within innovative fields. The conference brought together political scientists from across Europe. The section on digital policy offered a good opportunity to discuss recent advances in digital policy in the EU.
Titled “Understanding Digital Policy through the Multiple Streams Framework,” the paper uses the Multiple Streams Framework to explore how agenda-setting, decision-making, and early implementation are affected by the international context of EU digital regulation. Focusing on the DSA, DMA, and AI Act, it argues that the policy process is shaped not only by the interaction of the traditional streams, but also by other actors such as major technology firms, whose influence can extend from legislative negotiation into implementation.