The European Commission has published a report on the application of the Directive on Orphan Works, based on the results of an independent study. The Directive was created to improve legal certainty across the EU for the digitisation and dissemination of copyright-protected work for which rights holders are impossible to identify or uncontactable. Although it is of limited use due to the burden placed on archival institutins to do the investigation, the reports highlights that the Directive has a positive (even if limited) impact on the digitisation and online availability of the European cultural heritage.
Here is the link to the report: