Part 5: Free ICT Europe's Roadmap – The Interlinked Policy Matrix

30 Second Summary

• The Right to Repair Directive is only one part of a broader policy framework.
• Ecodesign, the Cyber Resilience Act and the Data Act each play a critical role.
• Together, these policies support repairability, digital sovereignty and the circular economy.
• No single piece of legislation can achieve these goals on its own.

The Right to Repair Directive is an important milestone, but it should not be viewed in isolation. It forms part of a broader legislative framework that will ultimately determine how repairable, reusable and sustainable ICT products become.

For the independent IT aftermarket, several key pieces of European legislation must work together.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) addresses how products are designed, including repairability requirements, parts pairing and the future Digital Product Passport. While the Right to Repair focuses on access to repair after a product has been sold, Ecodesign determines whether products are designed to be repairable in the first place.

The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) complements this by addressing software security and support. Longer security update periods are essential if hardware is to remain safe and usable throughout an extended lifecycle.

The Data Act is another critical component. It aims to provide users and authorised third parties with access to the operational and diagnostic data generated by connected devices. This information can be invaluable for maintenance, repair and refurbishment activities.

Together, these regulations create a policy framework that supports digital sovereignty, extends product lifecycles and strengthens Europe's circular economy.

The Right to Repair Directive opens the door, but these complementary policies will determine how far Europe can go in creating a truly competitive and sustainable repair ecosystem.

In Plain English

The Right to Repair is only one piece of a much bigger puzzle.

Making products repairable isn't just about providing spare parts. Products also need to be designed for repair, receive security updates for longer and allow access to the data needed to diagnose faults.

That is why Free ICT Europe supports several connected pieces of legislation. Together, they can help create an IT market where products last longer, repairs are easier and businesses have a fair opportunity to compete.

No single law can achieve this on its own.

Why this matters

One regulation cannot transform the IT industry.

If products can be repaired but no longer receive security updates, they become unusable. If software prevents replacement parts from working, repair is still blocked. If diagnostic data is unavailable, independent repairers cannot effectively maintain equipment.

Free ICT Europe's work therefore goes beyond the Right to Repair. By contributing to multiple European policy discussions, the organisation aims to ensure that repairability, sustainability and digital sovereignty are considered throughout the entire lifecycle of ICT products.

Only by connecting these policies can Europe unlock the full potential of the circular economy.

This article is part of Free ICT Europe's six part series on the European Right to Repair Directive.

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