Primary functions of digital agencies in Austria and Europe

Georg Serentschy

Chapter 19 in Research Handbook on Digital Regulatory Agencies, 2026, pp 330-345 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter describes a digital agency's key functions from a European perspective, including licensing, monitoring, and enforcing compliance with regulations. It examines the evolving roles of digital regulatory agencies in Europe against geopolitical shifts, the global race for tech and military supremacy, technological advancements, and the pressing need for digital sovereignty. It highlights the inadequacies of traditional regulatory structures in addressing cross-sectoral challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms, and 6G ecosystems. Analyzing best practices from Nordic nations, the UK, and international bodies, it argues for integrating innovation, industrial policy, and regulation to create a future-proof digital governance framework. Central to this proposition is establishing a Digital Council – a coordinating body tasked with regulatory, advisory, and strategic responsibilities – evolving into a comprehensive digital authority. The proposed model emphasizes agility, de-siloing of traditional regulatory approaches, and fostering a culture of innovation. It underscores Austria's opportunity to lead by example, positioning itself as a competitive digital hub while contributing to Europe's overarching goal of strategic autonomy and digital resilience.

Keywords: Digital Sovereignty; Strategic Autonomy; Geopolitical Rivalry; Regulatory Governance; Innovation Ecosystem; Cross-Sectoral Collaboration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035330881
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035330898.00029 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:23237_19

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().