Press Release: Digital Single Market Strategy: European Commission agrees areas for action

The College of European Commissioners held on 25 March 2015 its first discussion on the Digital Single Market, aiming at removing obstacles to its full creation and implementation.

The discussion produced a list of three main areas to intervene during the European Commission's mandate:

+ Better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services (includes facilitating cross-border E-Commerce, tackling geo-blocking and modernising copyright law).

+ Shaping the environment for digital networks and services to flourish (includes investing in infrastructure, reviewing media and telecoms rules, updating spectrum technology and strengthening trust in online services)

+ Creating a European Digital Economy and Society with long-term growth potential (includes Industry 4.0 initiative, Data economy and big data, data protection, cloud computing, e-services and digital skills)

The Digital Single Market strategy was scheduled to be ready in May 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: How digital is your country? New figures reveal progress needed towards a digital Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-how-digital-is-your-country-new-figures-reveal-progress-needed-towards-a-digital-europe/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: Speech/15/4690, 25.03.15: Speaking points by Vice-President Ansip following College orientation debate on Digital Single Market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4690_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Telecoms: the backbone of the Digital Single Market http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-telecoms-the-backbone-of-the-digital-single-market/

European Commission: 10 Priorities: Digital Single Market http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/digital-single-market/index_en.htm

EurActiv, 26.03.15: Brussels tackles territorial copyright in digital strategy http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/brussels-tackles-territorial-copyright-digital-strategy-313261

EUObserver, 25.03.15: Brussels wants to end geo-blocking of online content https://euobserver.com/digital/128143

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: Speech/15/4704, 26.03.15: Competition policy for the Digital Single Market: Focus on e-commerce http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4704_en.htm

Politico, 20.04.15: Leaked digital single market’s ‘evidence file’ reveals Commission’s ambitions http://www.politico.eu/article/leaked-digital-single-market-strategy-evidence/

EurActiv, 04.05.15: Will the Digital Single Market be multilingual? http://www.euractiv.com/sections/languages-culture/will-digital-single-market-be-multilingual-314260

---