Communication on the mid-term review of the implementation of the Digital Single Market strategy – A connected digital single market for all

People and businesses in the EU have the inherent strengths needed to take advantage of the Digital Single Market (DSM). These include a strong manufacturing base and fast-growing startup ecosystem, which combined with newly digitised industrial processes and a skilled workforce, can drive growth for the foreseeable future. To fully unlock the data economy, the EU must also harness such assets to maximise the digitisation of the European service sectors, in particular health and care, energy, transport and finance.

However, these strengths can only be used to the full if there is substantial additional investment in digital skills and infrastructure, from the EU level, Member States and the private sector. The completion of the EU Single Digital Market also needs a clear and stable legal environment to stimulate innovation, tackle market fragmentation and allow all players to tap into the new market dynamics under fair and balanced conditions. This will provide the bedrock of trust that is essential for business and consumer confidence.

It is essential that EU businesses grasp the opportunities of digital technology to remain competitive at global level, that EU startups are able to scale up quickly, with full use of cloud computing, big data solutions, robotics and high speed broadband, thereby creating new jobs, increased productivity, resource efficiency and sustainability. The provision and use of eGovernment solutions would also bring enormous benefits for people, businesses and public administrations and opens the door to new cross-border opportunities, particularly by using electronic signatures.

At the same time, the digital infrastructures on which the digital economy depends need to be robust, resilient and able to adapt to evolving threats. Otherwise the trust of people and businesses will be eroded and digital uptake held back.

This mid-term review assesses progress towards the implementation of the Digital Single Market, identifying where more efforts are needed and where the changing digital landscape calls for new action at the EU level. It is accompanied by a Staff Working Document setting out the evidence that has informed this review.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)155: Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the communication http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:155:FIN

ESO: Background information: Mid-term review of the Digital Single Market strategy, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/mid-term-review-of-the-digital-single-market-strategy/

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