Software lies at the very heart of modern products and services that form part of wider digital ecosystems. Despite recent debates that focus specifically on AI, the IoT, and robotics the safety and liability related EU acquis has not even been fully adapted to software as such. Together with Yannic Duller, member of her research team at the University of Vienna and former bluebook trainee at the European Commission, Christiane Wendehorst prepared an in-depth study devoted to safety and liability related aspects of software from a more holistic perspective. The Study results, first of all, in a set of 20 Guiding Principles for safety and liability with regard to software which summarises the main findings of the study and may serve as recommendations for legislators at EU as well as at national level. The study also identifies options for action at EU level in three different fields, evaluates them, and comes forward with key recommendations. The Draft Study was favourably received at the 23 October workshop, which was attended by about 30 leading Commission Officials working on relevant files from several Directorates General, in particular DG CNCT, DG JUST, and DG GROW. The study will be finalised by November and is due to be published before the end of the year.