Published on 16 December 2022
ABSTRACT: With its administrative and executive bodies and institutions, the European Union plays a critical role in creating a legal and political environment stimulating for the development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR or Industry 4 .0) in its member states . It is the new technologies, which form a set of interconnected, rapidly growing technologies that complement each other and inter-combine creating new technological syntheses that are singled out in Industry 4 .0 . This article provides an analysis of the characteristics and dynamics of Industry 4.0 technologies, focusing on the main strategic documents and the creation of a political and legal framework that is stimulating for the growth and development of Industry 4.0 technologies . For the EU, Industry 4.0 represents a new business, technological, organisational and social transition. Transhumanism is embedded in the theoretical platform of Industry 4.0. This is obvious from its very definition, as Industry 4 .0 leads to the convergence, combination and synthesis of biology, technology and things, which happens to be the essence of the philosophy of transhumanism . Bearing in mind the numerous implications and consequences of the main technological trends of Industry 4.0 in the context of the guidelines of the transhumanist philosophy, EU is crucial as a generator, facilitator and controller in the process of creation of a legal framework and policies that will enable balanced development, minimise risks and provide the necessary instruments and means for expedient, coordinated, ethical and ecological management of the economy and society in the future.
KEY WORDS: European Union, Industry 4 .0, Fourth Industrial Revolution, transhumanisation technologies, political and legal environment .
