Digital Single Market – Bringing down barriers to unlock online opportunities

The internet and digital technologies are transforming the world. But existing barriers online mean citizens miss out on goods and services, internet companies and start-ups have their horizons limited, and businesses and governments cannot fully benefit from digital tools. The European Commission argues that it's time to make the EU's single market fit for the digital age – tearing down regulatory walls and moving from 28 national markets to a single one. The Commission claims that could contribute €415 billion per year to the EU economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

Policy areas
The Digital Single Market strategy is made up of three policy areas or 'pillars'

Improving access to digital goods and services
Helping to make the EU's digital world a seamless and level marketplace to buy and sell.

An environment where digital networks and services can prosper
Designing rules which match the pace of technology and support infrastructure development.

Digital as a driver for growth
Ensuring that Europe's economy, industry and employment take full advantage of what digitalisation offers.

The Digital Single Market forms one of the ten key policy priorities of the European Commission 2014-2019.

• Primary Source

ESO: Find more information on this topic in ESO http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=digital%20single%20market%20&searchTerm

European Commission: DG Connect: Digital Single Market https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-single-market

European Commission: DG Growth: Digital Single Market for business and consumers http://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/digital/

Council of the European Union: Policies: Digital single market for Europe http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-single-market-strategy/

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