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Own-initiative report First reading

Virtual worlds – opportunities, risks and policy implications for the single market

Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.

Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 17 January 2024. This is its final position on the matter.

  1. ✓ Referred to committee 19 January 2023
  2. ✓ Committee work Report adopted 28 November 2023
  3. ✓ Tabled for plenary 5 December 2023
  4. ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 17 January 2024
  5. ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament

A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.

Who is working on it

Lead committee
IMCO — Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Rapporteur
Pablo ARIAS ECHEVERRÍA PPE
Shadow rapporteurs
Virginie JORON IDMEP #197635 S&DCarlo FIDANZA ECRMEP #197668 RenewMEP #197645 Verts/ALEMEP #197527 The Left
For opinion
JURI — Legal Affairs CULT — Culture and Education · rapporteur Laurence FARRENG Renew

The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.

The text, version by version

Adopted by Parliament · latest Adopted text TA9-0032/2024 17 January 2024 ✦ Parliament's resolution on virtual worlds sets out its position on how the EU should approach Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. It welcomes the Commission's July 2023 communication and calls for a sustainable, human-centric strategy that protects EU values.⇄ what changed Tabled for plenary Report A9-0397/2023 5 December 2023 ✦ Parliament's resolution on virtual worlds sets out general principles, internal market and consumer protection measures, and sustainability requirements for the development of virtual worlds and Web 4.0.⇄ what changed Committee draft Draft report (IMCO) 5 September 2023 ✦ A draft report by Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee on virtual worlds and the single market. It welcomes the Commission's Web 4.0 initiative, calls for a clear regulatory framework, interoperability and open standards, and asks the Commission to report every two years.

Committee opinions: Draft opinion (CULT),Opinion (CULT)

Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.

Timeline

  1. Plenary stage
  2. 17 January 2024 Plenary vote
    Sitting of 17 January 2024 📄 Report A9-0397/2023📄 Adopted text TA9-0032/2024
    Adopted Adopted by a large majority
    For 484 Against 45 Abstained 98

    Final vote on the motion for a resolution at 12:51 · 77% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →

  3. 5 December 2023 Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    📄 Report A9-0397/2023
  4. Committee stage
  5. 28 November 2023 Committee vote: report adopted

    IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  6. 5 September 2023 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    📄 Draft report (IMCO)
  7. 18 July 2023 CULT (Culture and Education) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

    📄 Opinion (CULT)
  8. 27 April 2023 Draft opinion from CULT (Culture and Education)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

    📄 Draft opinion (CULT)
  9. 19 January 2023 Referred to the IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; JURI (Legal Affairs), CULT (Culture and Education) give an opinion.