EU's 28 countries give support to Digital Single Market

News General Europe 26 JUN 2015
EU's 28 countries give support to Digital Single Market

The European Council, representing the European Union’s 28 countries, has given its support for the plans of the European Commission to create a Digital Single Market. EC VP for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip said the endorsement means the process can move forward and that countries will now be able to take some control and ownership of the various initiatives to be presented.

The EC’s Digital Single Market Strategy wants to boost innovation, growth and jobs by tackling market fragmentation, ensuring future-proof regulation, building supporting infrastructure, helping the digitisation of industry, and by creating conditions to facilitate growth in all sectors while protecting citizens.

The European Council agreed that the Telecommunications Single Market Regulation, including roaming, and the Directive on Network and Information Security must be rapidly adopted and that the Data Protection package must be adopted by the end of this year. Action must be taken to remove the remaining barriers to the free circulation of goods and  services sold on-line and to tackle unjustified discrimination on the grounds of geographic location.

The Council agreed that rules must guarantee the portability and facilitate cross-border access to online material protected by copyright, while ensuring a high level of protection of intellectual property rights and taking into account cultural diversity. They must also help creative industries to thrive in a digital context.

The rules must in addition ensure effective investment instruments and improve the innovation climate, targeting in particular SMEs and start-ups, identify and deliver rapidly on the key ICT standardisation priorities and ensure the free flow of data. They must also assess the role of on-line platforms and intermediaries, improve digital skills and encourage e-Government.

Ansip said progress was in sight on the Telecoms Single Market package (roaming charges/net neutrality) and on the Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive, with "trilogue talks" scheduled for 29 June.

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